GIFT OF
Mr. Ralph Ellis
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GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Jftrat Settlers of S
THE NAMES OF THE HEADS OF THOSE FAMILIES,
$ewg onlg ijjirtem at % ttrrn of fym lanbittg;
FIRST PROPRIETORS OF ORIENT;
Biographical Sketches,
BY AUGUSTUS GRIFFIN
rtent, C. J.
PUBLISHED BY AUOUSTUS GRIFFIN
1857.
F i-
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by
AUGUSTUS GRIFFIN,
>rk s Office of the District Court of the United States, (or the Southern
District of New York.
C. *.. AJ.V ORD, PRINTER
.M.KWA.TER STRKKT N. V.
Dedication.
To my Son, Sidney L. Griffin; and good friend,
Nathaniel T. Hvfobard, Esq.
Having had it in contemplation for some years to
leave to posterity some memorial of its ancestry in this
my native town; and having, with much labor, collected
many facts and incidents together for the purpose of
publication, unvarnished as they are ; and being near
the end of my earthly sojourn, I now submit them to
the public.
It has pleased my Creator to prolong my life beyond
the ordinary age of man ;* and this favor I interpreted
as a design of His will that I should live to see my de
sire, respecting this work, fulfilled. To you, my son,
and to you, my excellent friend and nephew, by per
mission, I dedicate this production, the fruit of many
days of anxious toil and research. It is but an inade-
* In my ninety first year.
* M120352
6 DEDICATION
quate return for your marked attentions and numerous
expressions of friendship. And may that Power who
has preserved me so long, and surrounded me with so
many blessings, attend us to that world that knows no
change or sorrow, but peace and love forever more.
AUGUSTUS GRIFFIN.
Orient, January, 1857.
Preface.
The statistics collected in this biographical and chro
nological history, is the work of our aged inhabitant of
Southold, now living, well known for his literary tastes
and indefatigable application to the subject. It is an
invaluable repository of facts, connected with the early
settlement, character, and actions of our ancestors. The
descendents of those ancestors are inhabitants of every
section of the country, and it is natural they should
trace their lineage to the graves of their fathers. It is
incumbent on us, therefore, who live around them, to
preserve the record of the facts in our possession for
future reference, as evidence of their nativity. To fu
ture generations, this sketch must be most acceptable
and gratifying. It abounds with anecdote, incident,
and narrative, enlivening the tediousness of genealo-
gous detail with many interesting and pertinent descrip
tions, more valuable to the native, but not the less
3 PREFACE.
agreeable to the general reader. The volume may not
possess the fascination of fiction or the gravity of pole
mics ; but more than these, it appeals to that earnest
desire, which every one possesses, of knowing the his
tory of his origin, and the vicissitudes of his race.
JOHN O. TERKY,
Orient, December, 1856.
Contents.
PAGE.
Brewster Anna,
192.
Akerly Robert,
15, 16.
Beebee Joseph & family,
200
Arnold Isaac,
do.
Boiseau Jean,
205.
Adams Rev. Mr.,
39.
Browns Israel, &c.,
208
Anderson Rev. Mr.,
41.
Brown John,
224.
Amerman, Rev. Mr.,
56.
Booth, family,
226.
Auction at Sterling,
51.
Beebee Daniel,
239
Arnot, Dr. D. R.,
169.
Brown Robt.,
241.
Aldridge Ezekiel,
216.
do. Edwin P.,
do
Anecdote, Baptist minister,
257.
C
B
Corwin Matthias, 15, 16,
225.
Budd John ST., 15, 16.
Corey Jacob,
16
Brown Richard Sr.,
19.
Conkline John, 16,
238
do. Samuel,
19.
Caddie Rev. Mr.,
40
do. Israel,
19.
Cook Rev. Mr.,
do.
do. Joseph,
19.
Cram Rev. Mr,,
do.
do. Richard Jr.,
20.
Clark Rev Mr.,
43
Beebee Noah G.,
20.
Church Methodist,
53.
Barber Rev. Mr.,
37.
Christmas Storm, 1811,
154.
Beers Rev. Mr.,
43.
Chase Frederick,
175
Blakeman Rev. Mr.,
43.
Champlin George,
183
Booth Constant Jr.,
52.
Corwin Mrs. John,
185
Bouton Rev M.,
57.
Clergymen of Upper Aque-
Brown Hannah.
135.
bogue,
199.
10
CONTENTS.
Case Col. Benjamin,
PAGE.
206.
Clark Dr. Joshua,
207.
do. John,
217.
Case Moses,
236.
Carl Silas,
244.
D
Davenport Hev. Mr.,
40.
Dickerson Rev. Mr ,
41.
Deverel Rev. Mr.,
do.
Dyer Caleb,
240.
E
Edwards Lewis A..
20, 238.
" Enterprise" Schooner,
239.
F
Fisher s Island.
33.
Foster Rev. Mr..
40.
Finnegan Rev. Mr..
54.
Foss, Rev. Mr .
55.
Friendship,
155.
Fanning Edmond,
206.
Franklin Dr. at Southoid
228.
Gardiner s Island,
15.
Glover Samuel,
28.
do. Grover,
29.
Gull s Islands,
33.
Ground for Church,
37.
Gamage. Rev. Mr.,
43.
Greenport.
53.
Griffin Augustus,
67.
do. Jasper & others 84 to 101
inclusive.
Griffin Samuel and
others, 114 to 116.
do. Peter, 125.
Gillet Rev. Elisha, 102.
Goldsmith Zacheus, 114.
Gardiner Dr. John, 127
Griffin Daniel & Brothers. 168
do. Joseph, 170.
Genin John N., 183.
Griffin Amon T.. 186
Griswold Wareham. 203.
Glover family, 217 ; 218.
Goldsmith Jos. H . 233.
do. Addisou. do.
Gardner Lion, 242,
H
Horton Barnabas, 15, 16.
Hallock Peter, 17
Haynes Rev. Mr.. 41.
Benson, Rev. Mr., 56,
Hollis, Rev. Mr.. do
How Rev. Mr.,, do
Hill Rev. Mr., 57.
Havens Dr. Jonathan, do,
do. Gabriel, do,
Horton Silas, 147
do. Bethia, 152.
Ho well Jonathan, 157.
Hill, Ithuel, 167,
Hubbard Mrs. Harriet ML, 180:
Hovton Johathan G. ? 192, 229,
Hobart Rev. Peter & family, 201
Horlow Robert, 224,
House, first meeting in South-
old 259.
Hubbard family, 2.34-
CONTENTS.
11
King John,
fc
PAGE
19, 22, 26, 30, 103.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
William,
Rev. Saml. W.,
Benjamin Jr.,
Edward C.,
Benjamin,
Joseph,
Abner,
Frederick,
John Sr. & family,
Henry,
Elisha,
Latham Jonathan F.
Lee Rev. Mr.,
Lucky Rev. Mr.,
Lester Thomas S.
H
Mapes Thomas,
Mulford Elisha,
Moore Thomas Sr.,
1st Meeting House*
2nd do.
3d do.
1st Mill at Orient,
Moore Abigail,
do. John,
do. Usher H.,
30.
53.
132,
do.
133.
148.
150.
151.
216.
223.
224.
34.
39.
56.
113.
15, 16.
28, 237.
28, 215.
38.
43.
44.
134,
138.
215.
226.
Oysterponds, 18, 31.
do. Families in 1700, 35.
do. do 1752, 36.
do. do. 1855, 45.
Oysterponds residents of 90
years old,
Overton Rev. Mr.,
Ordnance,
Osborne, Rev. Mr.j
Overton Isaac,
Old Burying ground, Orient, 187
PAGE.
45.
40.
50.
56.
153.
Peter s Neck, 24.
Pathway or lane to the Harbor 25.
Plumb Island, a rock on, 32.
Payne Pears, 34;
Porter, Rev. Mr., 42.
Portrait of my wife, 192
Partridge Asa, 203.
Peterson Mrs. Emma, 205.
Penny Wid. Esther, 208,
Petty Family, 219.
Paine John, 224.
Prince James and John 233
R
Robertson Rev. Mr.,
Rawson Rev. Mr.,
Racket Noah,
do. Deacon John
family,
Rudd Rev. John C.,
Reeve Family,
42.
56.
128.
and
128 to 130.
195.
195
Southampton, 15.
Southold, 16.
Smith Rev. Mr., 41.
Snow Storm, 47.
Shaw Richard, 49.
Sing Rev. Mr., 56.
September, Storm, 1815, 160.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Sickness at Orient, 1849, 177,
Sweezy Rev. Moses, 198.
Sigourney Mrs. L. H., 204.
Seaman John, 243.
Tuthill John Sr., 15, 16, 19,21, 58.
do. John Jr., 21, 59.
Terry Richard, 16, 213.
Tuthill Peter V.,
do. Jeremiah, 26.
Tibbals Rev., Mr., 57.
Tuthill John 3d, 60.
do. do. 4th, 62.
do. Samuel, 63.
do. James, do.
do. Nathaniel Sr., 65, 234.
do. Mary,
Terry Jonathan, 101, 116, 239.
do. Daniel T., 121.
do. Noah, H8.
do. Thomas, 120, 225.
Tuthill Noah, HI-
do. Adjutant Daniel, 113.
do. Henry 3d of John Jr., 163.
Townsend Deborah, 141.
Tabor Amon, 143.
do. Frederick, 147.
Tuthill, Judge W. H.,
Terry John 0., 165.
Tuthill Rufus, 172.
do. Capt. Rufus, 200.
Terry Samuel H., 205.
do. Joseph Jr., 214,
do. David, 224.
Tuthill Ira, 231.
do. Matthew, 238.
Thompson B. F., 247.
PAGE.
Vail Jeremiah Jr., 28.
do. do. 3d, 29.
do. do. 3th, 29.
do. Jeremiah Sr. 30, 218,220,232.
do. Stephen Sr., 156.
do. Dr. Thomas, 104.
Vail Silas, 173.
do. Elizabeth, 193.
Well, William Esq.,
15, 16.
Wooster Gen.,
21.
Wharf,
49.
Webb David,
Whitfield Rev. Mr.,
52.
Webb Rev. Mr.,
57.
Webb Orange Sr.,
110.
do. David,
124.
do. Silas,
do.
Wiggins Family,
130.
Wells, Harriet L.,
164.
Woodhull John,
171.
Women Physicians in South-
old, 180.
Wells John C., 184.
Wickham Family, 222.
Washington at Sterling, 227.
Wells Rev. Timothy 230.
do. Benjamin 242.
Youngs Jonathan Jr., 158.
do. Henry, 160.
do. Jeremiah, 190.
do. Rev. Daniel, 197.
do. Rev. John &c., 211.
JOURNAL.
A company, consisting of thirteen men, with their
families, left their mother country (old England) about
the year 1638, for the newly-discovered World, known
as America. After a passage of some weeks, they ar
rived at ISTew Haven, then a small village in the then
colony of Connecticut. At this place they stopped un
til early in the autumn of 1640, having made their stay
there ahout two years. Until this last date they had
not fully decided where to make their permanent abode,
or settle themselves and families for life. They now all
agreed to charter a vessel and embark on hoard, with
their families, effects, and provisions sufficient to carry
them through the then coming winter. All things ready,
the sails were hoisted, with a propitious breeze. They
requested the captain to direct his course for the east
end of Long Island. After sailing about forty miles,
they rounded the point which terminates the northeast
branch of this island, then directing their course south
erly about five miles, to what is now known as Long
Beach Point ; doubling* this point, they steered west
about two miles to Shelter Island Ferry. J^ow the
2
14 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
course was southwest, to a harbor or bay about six miles
farther, now known as Southold. Here they cast anchor
near the shore, on which they could see a number of
natives, whose movements betokened much curiosity
and amazement.
After returning thanks to the Great Disposer of all
things for his goodness in aiding them in a safe pas
sage to this new and uncivilized place, several of them
entered the long boat and rowed for the shore. As
they rowed with their backs towards the shore, the na
tives, who awaited their landing, appeared astonished
to see men coming towards them backwards. They
were received with tokens of friendship. Tradition
says that the first man of these bold adventurers to set
his foot 011 the shores of this town, was a Mr. Peter
Hallock. This, however, it is said, was accorded him
by lot. The place where he stepped on the beach is,
to this day 1856 (two hundred and sixteen years
since) pointed out, and called Hal lock s Landing. It is
some seventy rods south the foot of land af
terwards owned by the Hon. Ezra Lhommodieu. South
west of said spot, along the beach, about sixty rods far
ther, is a creek called Town Creek, which you can cross
at low water to Hogi.
After they had all safely landed and cultivated ji peace
able intercourse with the astonished natives, they set
for a suitable site whereon to erect booths,
or tents, to protect their wives and children from the
storms and t< of the coming The lot
which they selected was about eighty rods west from
where iliey landed it is now owned by the parish or
town of Southold on which is a house where the poor
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 15
are kept, and, we hope, are well attended to. There
is still remains of holes in the earth pointed out where
these first settlers kept their provisions from the frost.
The names of these adventurers to this new region
with their households, were : 1st. Rev. John Youngs ;
2d. Barnabas Horton ; 3d. William Wells, Esq. ; 4th.
Peter Hallock; 5th. John Tuthill; 6th. Eichard Terry;
7th. Thomas Mapes; 8th. Matthias Corwin ; 9th. Ro
bert Akcrly ; 10th. Jacob Corey; llth. John Conkline;
12th. Isaac Arnold; 13th. John Budd.- Twelve of
these had their wives and children with them, Peter
Hallock s wife and children were at the time* in Eu
rope.
These men, with their families, were the first of any
civilized nation that had made the attempt to settle on
the east end of Long Island. This took place in the
early part of September, 1640. Southampton was set
tled in the November following. Gardiner s Island was
purchased of the natives the year previous viz : 1639
by Lion Gardiner, who, at the time, was a lieutenant
in a fort then at Saybrook, Connecticut.
As winter was approaching, as far as their means
would admit, every laudable effort to meet and endure
it with composure and resignation as Christians and
pilgrims, were made use of. The Rev. John Youngs
cheerfully shared with them every privation and diffi
culty allotted to this his charge. The greater part, or
all the heads of these families, were members of his
church in Hingham, England, which is about one hun
dred miles from London ; there lie had been a minister
some year- previous to his coming to this New World.
By the opening of spring they had formed a friendly
16 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
intercourse with tlie natives, purchased land on which
to erect suitable booths for their present residences, and
commenced, as would seem, a revolution in their event
ful career in life. These families, it appears, for the
first year or so, settled down within the bounds of the
present town of Southold. Rev. John Youngs, their
worthy pastor, continued in their midst to dispense the
word of life. Barnabas Ilor ton s first tenement was
erected near or on the site where his descendant,
Jonathan G. Ilorton, now lives, he being the sixth ge
neration. William Wells, a lawyer, located on the land
part of which is now occupied by his descendant of the
seventh generation, William II. Wells. John Tuthill,
in the course of a year or so, went east some nine miles,
to what was afterwards called Oysterponds now,
Orient. Two of his sons afterwards settled at Cutcho-
gne; Richard Terry, located near where Mr. Cady now
lives ; Thomas Mapes, a little west of the meeting
house ; Matthias Corwin, on the north side of the road,
on lands now owned by the heirs of the late Lazarus Gen-
iiing ; Robert Akerl v purchased where Win. C. Coch-
ran now resides ; Jacob Corey, on the land now owned
by the heirs of the late Dr. Micah Moore; John Conk-
line, a little to the east of Corey ; Isaac Arnold, just
east of Conkline ; John Budd near where Moses C.
Cleveland owns and resides.
As they had now formed themselves into a society,
it was deemed proper to give a name to the place
chosen for their residence. The majority were for
naming it " Southold ;" and so it was set down, and so
it yet remains. Its Indian name was Toyony.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 17
There is a place in England about one hundred
miles from London called South wold, and it is thought
some of these families came from that village or town,
and so recommended the name, which has continued in
favor over two hundred years.
Mr. Peter ILillock, as before noticed, was the first to
set foot on the shores of this town. His family was
not with him ; he had left them in Europe, living near
London viz: a wife and two step-daughters. Mr.
Iliillock continued at Southold not more than a year.
Some suppose that Oyster Ponds was not visited by any
of these first men to Southold under two or more years ;
but I am fully of the opinion, after my ii-. ions,
and as Mr. Hallock was situated, that IIG went to
Oysterponds the next year after his arrival at Soiifhold.
As it was, Mr. Hallock traveled east to a neck of iund,
called by the Indians who possessed it, PequaiiiGk^ Dm&
miles. This isolated spot then a fores : appeared to
Mr. Hallock as most delightful. Its locality, ;
and many natural advantages, rendered ii r.u obj.
interest to purchase. He soon concluded, a bp.rgain
with its native owners for the enlire nock, Lncl, rs he
conceived, a safe and good one. He r.ov
Southold, arranged his affairs, an;
New York for where ho i: il ^J>
well, and greatly rej.
Mr. Hal lock w3
a picturesque d j.seripi IiMi of . -de
previous to his leaving the I ce of
2*
18 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
land on the extreme east and north part of a beautiful
island ; said piece of land containing about two thou
sand acres, with its bays, beaches, &c., &c. This de
lightful neck of land lie informed Mrs. Hallock should
be a present to her two daughters, if she and they would
accompany him to America. Whether they were some
time making up their minds we know not, but tradi
tion says his stay was rather long in England, and as it
has been said, " procrastination is the thief of time,"
in this case Mr. Hallock found it so to his sad disap
pointment.
At his return to take possession of his in valuable selec
tion, lo ! to his sorrow, it had been conveyed away, and
actually taken possession of by Tuthill, Youngs, and
others.
It does not appear after this transaction of Mr. Hal-
lock,- from any information or record that I have found,
that he was the purchaser or owner of any lands or
tenements in Oysterponds. It is believed he subse
quently settled some twenty miles west of the village
of Southold, near what is now called Acquebogue,
where there is now many of his descendants living.
Mr. Thompson in his excellent histoiy of Long Island,
says Oysterponds was purchased of the natives about
1646, six years after the first settlement of Southold.
If this was so, and Hallock went home to England after
this, his bargain, and was absent two or more years, as
tradition informs us, it is not much to be wondered at
that the Indians were so doubtful of his return as to
make a second conveyance of the : neck of
land.
From the above circumstances relating to Oyster-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 19
ponds, as totlie time of its settlement, I should suppose
that John Tuthill, with the Rev. John Youngs, or his
son John, junior, (at the time, 1650,) twenty-live or more
years old, came down to Qysterponds, and with a Mr.
John King, Israel and Richard Brown, bought all the
west part of said land, from the east part of what is now
called Truman s Beach, to the east bounds of what is
called the Manor and Parsonage, with the late Captain
Christopher Brown s farm to the bay, making the east
line ot this first purchase, beginning at the bay and
running about a north course to the Sound.
JSTow, it is as w^ell ascertained as perhaps it ever can
be, and I am satisfied from the strictest researches I
*have made, that after Peter llallock s first visit to
Oysterponds, in 1641, (Pequatuck, as the natives called
it,) John Tuthill, John Youngs, Jr., Israel Brown,
Richard Brown, Samuel Brown, and John King, were
the first six men to settle in this place with their fami
lies, and the first owners of its lands from the natives.
From our fathers fathers, we are informed that the
first rude dwelling built on this peninsula, or neck of
land, was put up on the south side of the road, a rod or
two west of where Israel or his son Joseph Brown some
years after, built a good sized house on the north side
of the road. This last house was built about the year
1670. About the year 1829 it was taken down and a
small one erected instead, on the same site. When
taken down it must have stood more than one hundred
and fifty years. It was situated about one-third of a
mile east of the foot of Truman s Beach.
This house, as I have noticed, was near the spot
opposite where the first rude hut or shelter from the
20 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
inclemency of the weather for civilized man, in this
place was put up. That, as said, was on the south side
of the road, where there yet remains the sign of a well,
which, no doubt, was dug by those first civilized set
tlers about the year 1645 or 1646. In 1782 or 1783,
this property passed out of the Brown family, who had
been its owners since 1646 or 1647, or near that date,
being about 130 years.
The next house was east of Joseph Brown s some
forty rods, built by Samuel Brown. It stood on or
near the spot where William T. Conkline has erected a
barn. This house was burned down not far from 1730.
A little west of this another wn.^ soon erected, which is
yet standing, owned by Andrew Jackson Racket. w
About twenty rods east of Samuel s house, Richard
Brown with his son Richard Brown, Jr., built them
selves a large double dwelling. When this house was
repaired with an addition, there was a vane to show the
point of the wind, at the time put up on the peak of the
roof, marking the date of the repairing of said house and
the year the vane w r as put up, viz. : 1691. It reads the
same up or down. This house stood about one hundred
and iifty years, when it was taken down, and on its site
Noah G. Beebe in 1837 erected a handsome two story
single house. This venerable old homestead went out
of the Brown family in 1829, or near that date, when
Mr. Noah G. Beebe purchased it. Mr. Beebe died in
the autumn of 1849. His widow, Mrs. Charlotte Beebe,
sold it in 1852 to Mr. Lewis A. Edwards, in whose pos
session, it now remains. In the winter of 1855 and 1856
Mr. Edwards sold the Beebe house to Dr. E. E. Skin-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 21
ner, who moved it to Greenport. Mr. Edwards lias
built a superb mansion house near where the Beebe
house stood, perhaps the largest and most expensive in
this county.
The next house east, about twenty-five rods distant,
was erected by John Tuthill, Jr., or more likely by his
father, John Tuthill, Sr., who at the time when this
house was put up, in about 1666, was near seventy years
old, and his son John T., Jr., about thirty years old,
who came in possession of it at his father s death. The
father, John Tuthill, Sr., with the Browns, Youngs,
and Kings, made his choice of this location for his stop
ping place. Where this ancestor of all the Tuthills in
this and the neighboring towns died, and his age, at
the time of his death, no one can inform us.
It is very reasonable to suppose he occupied this
house while lie lived, and after him his son John, Jr.,
who died in 1717, aged eighty-two years. At this
period Henry Tuthill, Sr., grandson of John Tuthill, Jr.,
was fifty-two years of age. The house, it is believed,
was the oldest frame one in this place. It was double,
with two small front rooms, a narrow entry between
them, a story and a half high, near thirty feet front and
twenty-three feet rear ; the roof the steepest I ever
knew. In this antique house Henry Tuthill, Jr., died
at the age of about eighty-five. This took place while
General David "Wooster with his brigade was stationed
at Oysterponds, in the summer of 1775. This old relic
of ancient days was moved off the premises, converted
into a barn, in or near 1800, and about 1822 taken
down, having stood one hundred and sixty or more
22 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
years. Peter Y. Tuthill now owns and occupies the
lands of this old homestead. He is the seventh genera
tion from John Tu.thill,the first proprietor.
John King, who had purchased the lands adjoining
John Tnthill s east line, Imilt for himself and his son
Samuel a house, about twenty .five rods east of said Tut-
hilFs. His and Tutliill s were of similar draft and con
struction -roofs steep to a fault. These five houses
were all "built between the years 1660 and 1690. As
these men with their families came to this place find
settled on these locations, some fifteen or twenty years
earlier than those dates, they must have had some kind
of tenements to dwell in previous to having put up
their more comfortable situations ; but what they were
we are not informed. When these first fathers came
to Southold their average age was about forty years,
which would make them at the time of constructing
those residences near three score and ten years of
age. As we have observed, John Tuthill, Jr. assisted
in taking an interest with his father, so it must have
been witli the Browns, Kings, and Youngs. As has
been said of Brown s homestead, so likewise luith the
place of John King gone out of his name. His house
which was built about 1670 was taken down in 1816,
on the site of which David Tuthill erected a low double
house. This last one has been enlarged and raised to
that of a two story, much unlike those antique, odd
constructed abodes of our honest, good hearted fathers
of blessed memory. The beams of those venerable
houses were mostly of white oak, and many of them
more than twelve and sixteen inches square. They
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 23
were handsomely planed and beaded. Some suppose
it must have been a task to raise them, as the place
was thinly settled. However we see they were built
and finished in a substantial way and stood, notwith
standing the piercing winter storms of more than seven
score winters.
Gideon Youngs, who settled in this place with the
Browns, Tuthills and John King, was the third son of
Rev. John Youngs, who made one of the thirteen fami
lies that first landed at Southern. He was born about
1635. His brother John, who was afterwards a Colonel,
High Sheriff of all Long Island, then called Na-ssau,
and a Judge, with his reverend father, made the pur
chase of the large farm of which Gideon came in pos
session about the year 1658 and erected his house on
the premises about the time the Browns, Tuthills, and
John King built theirs, before mentioned. Colonel
John Youngs was the oldest son and born about 16-23,
and at the settlement of Oysterponds was twenty-seven
years of age. The Colonel in consequence of his high
offices and public business, stopped but little with his
family in Oysterponds, although concerned with his
father and brothers in the purchase of much land in
the place.
It appears that the Youngs purchase here contained
more land than all the other five who came with them.
Their farm was bounded on the west by the land
John King, commencing about where there is now a
substantial v.hai-f at the landirg, ; Harbor,)
then running in a northerly line with the road to the
main highway, then in the same course to the Sound,
then easterly to the east line of what is called the manor
24 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
and parsonage land, then turning a southerly course to
the bay, called Long Beach Bay, which empties into
said harbor, at what is now known as Peters Neck,
from which it keeps the shore of said harbor, w^hich is
a northwesterly course to the wharf first mentioned.
Said tract of land contained at least four hundred acres.
Peters Neck, so called, took its name from the Chris
tian name of its owner, many years ago, one Peter
Bradley. It is pleasantly wooded with cedar, and by
some now known as cedar grove.
The place on this farm which Mr. Youngs selected for
his future abiding place, and placed his house, out
houses, barns and yards, was east from the wharf about
one-fourth of a mile within twenty-five or thirty rods
from the shore, adjoining those beautiful low banks,
which, for the last hundred years, in this village, are
known as " Gideon s Banks." Here he made his resi
dence and settled himself down for the remaining days
of his life. His first house was built near the time of
those of Tu thill, King and Brown ; it was very similar
in its appearance. After standing more than one hun
dred and twenty-five years, its old fashioned huge
beams were tumbled to the ground. Its last occupant
was Walter Youngs, who was a grandson of said Gideon
Youngs. Walter was a bachelor of the old school. In
his younger days he was said to be a man of good ad
dress, fashionable, and of sound sense. At the age of
sixty-five to seventy-five, he secluded himself from all
society would go into no house have no communica
tion with any one farther than to barely purchase the ne
cessaries of life on which he scantily subsisted, as appear
ed from his haggard appearance and worn out, tattered
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 25
garments. He had a sister Abigail who lived with him
until her death, which was several years before his.
After her demise, his life, from his manner, was more
dark, forlorn and forbidding ; the change never was ac
counted for. In the morning and noon of life, hale,
florid and prepossessing in manners and address in his
evening of days, alas ! what w r as seen but a wrinkled
object of humanity, clothed in rags, and wretched
amidst his sufficiency. His father left him a handsome
property, the most of which he possessed at the time of
his death. He died while alone in his house. There
is an old house yet on said farm, near the site of the
one spoken of, in which Gideon Youngs, Jr., died, which
has stood over one hundred and twenty years.
On the west, as I have observed, the Youngs tract of
land was bounded by lands of John King, whose line
fence divided the two farms. On the east side of this
fence, commencing at the main highway, or country
road, for about one-fourth of a mile it was all woods,
and much of it heavy oak and hickory timber. Through
this forest of trees was a path or lane leading from the
said main highway to the waterside 1 , where the wharf
now is. As there was not any fence east of the path, a
gate was erected at the main highway, through which
people could pass with their teams and on foot to and
from the landing. I heard a venerable and worthy lady
who died in her ninety-third year say, that when she
was a young girl she often walked down and up this
path when the leaves were near ankle deep, having fallen
3
26 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
by the winds and frosts of autumn. As she was born
in 1749 her traversing this path must have been about
the year 1757.*
This pathway leading from the main road to the land
ing at the harbor, was owned by Gideon Youngs and
his heirs until about the year 1691, at which time it
was made a two-pole way, and that width was sold to
the town for an open road to the shore, terminating at
low water mark, where the wharf now is. The price
paid for it was ten shillings. Whether they were Eng
lish shillings or our federal money, I know not. If the
first, it would be $2 31, if the latter, $1 25. Soon
after this conveyance the fence was made on the east
side, two rods from John King s line. The gate at the
main street was taken away and it became an open
road of thirty -three feet wide to the harbor. This took
place more than one hundred and sixty-three years ago,
About the year 1 848, it was with much difficulty, added
to its width four feet on each side. This difficulty was
occasioned by two or three men who owned land ad
joining, and who would sacrifice the convenience of a
whole district to gratify an avarice as sordid as it was
selfish.
The next house east of John King and joining the
east lino of the Youngs farm on the main road, was on
lands owned by John Tuthill, Jr. His father, John
Tuthill, Sr., may have assisted in the purchase, which
must have been as early as 1660. This house was built
not far from 1670. Its shape, draft, and size was like
that of Brown s, King s, and Tuthill s, particularly no
ticed before. Jeremiah Tuthill, great grandson to John
* Mrs. Esther Tabor died in her ninety-third year, in 1841.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 27
Tuthill, Sr., owned and lived in tins house from 1750
to 1796, about which time it was taken down, having
stood one hundred and twenty-six years ; it then went
out of the Tuthill s name. William S. Hobart now
owns the place on which is a new house. The next
house east of Tuthill s, in construction, size, &c., was
similar, and from its resemblance and its antique cast,
I should say was not its junior in years. Who was
its first owner we never could learn. The land or farm
belonging to it was about forty acres. A Mr. John
Petty was its proprietor until his death, which took
place in about 1775, and when near eighty years of age.
This house was taken down in 1798 when about one
hundred and thirty years old. About one hundred and
fifty rods east of Petty s, in a low spot, or as it was
called, a hollow, near the same time was erected another
house, in shape and size like Petty s. Its owner and pro
prietor was, we believe, John Tuthill, 3rd., known in
those days as Squire John. He gave it to his son John,
who was the fourth in succession. This house is yet
standing, and must be one hundred and seventy-five
years old. Its present owner, is John B. Youngs, a de
scendant in a straight line from Rev. John Youngs, first
minister in Southold, in 1640. This John B. Youngs,
the present owner, is the respectable son of late John
Youngs, who was the son of Judge Thomas Youngs,
who was the son of Joshua Youngs, who was the son of
Benjamin Youngs, who was the son of Colonel John
Youngs, who was the son of Rev. John Youngs, afore-
iaid.
The farm east of and next to John Tuthill s was sup
posed, as early as 1660, to be owned by a Mr. John
28 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Herbert. About, or near 1713, or 1715, the north part
of it, where the house stands, came into the hands of
Thomas Terry, Jr., son to the first Thomas Terry, who
came to Southold about 1660, or near that date. This
house in size and form like John Tu thill s, and built
about the same period (1666) is yet standing. Its pre
sent proprietor is Mr. Elisha Mulford, whose wife is
Fanny Terry, great-great-granddaughter to its first
owner, one hundred and ninety years ago.
The next farm adjoining Thomas Terry s, east, was
owned, as early as 1666, by Thomas Moore. It was
said its first owner from the natives was the John Her
bert before mentioned. It contained one hundred and
fifty acres, which now makes the farms of Orange, David
and Steward Petty. The first house on this tract has
been taken down more than twenty years. Thomas
Moore, Sr., died June 25, 1691. His sons, Nathaniel
and John, inherited his property and disposed of it to
the Petty s and to John Terry, Jr., who married Nathan
iel Moore s daughter. John Terry s house, in every par
ticular like Tuthill s and Thomas Terry s, stood about
one hundred and fifty years, when it was taken down
and a new one built on its site, by Orange Petty,
its present owner. East of the lands which Na
thaniel Moore conveyed to his son-in-law, John Terry,
Jr., was a farm owned by John Conkline, Sr., as
early as 1660. As he signs his name " Senior," it must
have been him who made one of the original thirteen
families.
It appears that Mr. Conkline sold this tract of land
some time after purchasing it to Jeremiah Yail, Jr., and
Samuel Glover. Yail took the west part, where Peter
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 29
"W. Tuthill now owns, and lias a house built near the
site of where the old one stood, which was taken down
about thirty years since, having stood since 1747 to
wit, seventy years. It stood on the south lot, oppo
site the present house. Glover took the east part,
where James Monroe Conkline now owns. His house is
on the site of the first one, which has been gone some
thirty years, having stood not less than one hundred
and fifty years. The last Glover who occupied it was
Grover Glover ; he died in 1803. His venerable
widowed mother died a short time before him, in her
ninety-fourth year. Jeremiah Yail, 3rd, died 1749 ;
Jeremiah Yail, 4th, died 1798. It is said, and we
believe it was so, that Col. John Youngs, with his
father, Rev. John Youngs, were the first to purchase
the lands which are now the farms of the Petty s and
John Terry s heirs ; John Herbert, perhaps, was with
him. Herbert was a mariner, and never settled in this
place.
The farm joining Glover s, on the east, was all or a
part of it owned, not far from 1700, by a Mr. Curtis ;
the south part we are assured was. It contained about
one hundred acres. Who was its first purchaser from
the natives, there is none now that can inform us. The
descendants of the Mr. Curtis who once owned all, or
part of it, are now living in the neighborhood of
(ioshen, Orange County, New York. Not far from
1735, Jona lian Terry, grandson to Thomas Terry, Sr.,
came in posso>sion of said farm; his grandson, David
Terry, is now i .s proprietor. East, and joining Terry s,
30 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
was a Mr. William King, whose house just like, in
draft and size those already described stood about
one hundred and fifty years. It is now gone ; and on
its site the late Daniel T. Terry built the present resi
dence thereon.
The next farm, east was owned by a Mr. King
whether a brother to William King, or not, we are not
informed. His house was exactly like those others
mentioned, and stood about the same number of years ;
Daniel Beebe, at this time, owns the premises. What
relation these Kings were to John King, father to
Samuel King, we cannot learn. It is generally sup
posed they were of another family, which came as
early as 1660 or 1670. The adjoining farm east was
very early owned by a Mr. Sheffield, but it came into
the possession of the Beebe family somewhere near
1700 ; its last owner was Samuel Beebe. It is now
owned by Joseph Latham and David Youngs. The first
of these gentlemen has a house on the site of the old
one, which was the counterpart of the others mentioned.
It stood about one hundred and fifty years.
The next farm which is bounded on the east by
Plumgut, on the north by the Sound, and south by
("lardiner s Bay containing about one hundred and
wenty acres, was bought, as early as 1655 or 1656, by
Jeremiah Vail, who came to Easthainpton about 1650.
He stopped there but a short time, came to this place,
and purchased what was afterwards, for many years,
called the " Point Farm." For fifty years from 1800
to 185-2 it was the property of Captain Jonathan F.
Latham. Stephen Vail, great grandson to Jeremiah
Vail, .he first owner, was the last proprietor of that
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 31
name ; lie left it in 1772 or 1773. It was in the family
about one hundred and twenty years.
Oysterponds so named by the first white men who
possessed it previously called by the natives, as we
have shown, Pequatuck, and in 1836, by a resolve of
its inhabitants, re-christened " Orient," (signifying as
we understand, "East," or " Eastern,") is a peninsula,
and is the extreme point of the north branch of Long
Island. At the east bounds of East Marion, formerly
known as Rocky Point, is a north and south narrow
beach ; through this last one runs a creek some two
rods wide, which is crossed by a substantial bridge to
what was formerly called Crook s Island, which con
tains perhaps sixty acres of good tilable land. For
the last hundred years it has been nearly equally divi
ded into two farms, on which are convenient dwellings,
with very thriving families. The Tuthills and Tru-
mans have been its proprietors for the above men
tioned term. The creek lets the water of the harbor
into a pond called Dam Pond, which, on the north, is
bounded by a narrow beach, dividing it from the Sound.
This beach, of about three rods wide and about eighty
rods long, is the only land link which unites Orient to
the main land of Long Island. In this pond, which
contains about sixty acres, is a rock some feet above
tide water, and on which is engraved the initials of
Samuel Crook, thus : " S. C. 1745." At the time,
we suppose, he owned these lands, bounded on the east
and south and west by said harbor, and on the north by
the Sound. Over a sand beach, you pass about one
32 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
hundred rods to the foot of Brown s Hills, which ter
minates this peninsula on the west.
About six miles west of what is called Oysterpond
Beach, is another beach called Ashamomaque Beach,
about fifteen rods wide and eighty roJs long, bounded
on the north by the Sound, on the south by a large
pond, which empties into the Peconic Bay by what is
called Mill Creek, at the west extreme point of Alber-
son s farm.
Situated in the middle of a plain lot of land of Silas
Beebe s farm, on Plumb Island, was a rock of rather a
regular form in diameter about twelve feet, and in
height, perhaps nine feet. On the top of this rock, on
one edge, was lodged another not quite as large, but
more round. The place on which this one rested with
its immense weight, was not more than twenty-two
inches ! Being upon the extreme edge, to the eye, it
looked as if a small effort might dislodge it from its
resting place, where, for aught we know, it had been
since the day of the Creation. It was so when Plumb
Island was bought of the natives, in 1666, and remained
thus until the war of 1812. While Commodore Hardy
was stationed in Gardiner s Bay, in 1815, a number of
officers and men went on shore with crowbars and
wedges, and, with much effort, succeeded in removing
it. We regret their success. It should have been left
in its ancient resting place as a marvellous work of Na
ture. Its destruction benefited no one, while, in its sin
gular position, it might have been the admiration of
thousands. Silas Beebe, at this time, had been dead
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 33
six years. While lie lived, his attention to tins wonder
ful phenomenon was such that not any consideration
would have tempted him to allow its removal. The im
portant question is, how came it there in such an aston
ishing situation? when was it put there? who did it?
These questions can never be answered. As it was in
a plain field, perhaps its parallel is not now, nor ever
was, known.
About a mile from the east point of Plumb Island are
two small islands, known as the " Gulls." The large
one contains about twelve acres the small one not
quite an acre. This last is enclosed by a substantial
stone wall, w T ell secured with copper bolts, as in storms
the waves are high and powerful. On this speck in the
sea, there is a solid and well built lighthouse. Six miles
northeast from these Gulls is Fisher s Island, which is
nine miles long, and not far from a mile wide. It is,
and has been owned for two hundred years, in the Win-
throp family. There is a small island called Ram Is
land within a short distance from the main land of Con
necticut, on which is one or two families and houses.
All these islands are in Southold town, which, from the
east end of Fisher s Island to the west line of the town,
must be thirty-six or more miles.
The two Gull Islands, with a farm on the east part of
Plumb Island, were owed by Deacon Daniel Tuthill, as
early as 1720, or near that date. The Gulls he sold in
about 1760. His farm on Plumb Island was in his
family until about 1820.
34 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
As early as the year 1TOO, a neck of land adjoining
the bay, south of Thomas Terry, was owned and occu
pied by a Mr. Payne. The lot is called to this day
Old Barn Lot. There was formerly a house there, we
believe, for previous to Thomas Terry s coming in pos
session there was an old barn on the premises. It was
standing as late as 1775. J^ear this old barn was a con
spicuous and valuable pear tree. Its fruit was prover
bial through all the district as of the first quality and
assuredly delicious. The inhabitants for miles around
in the season of fruit, would be anxiously inquiring for
" Payne s pears." The fruit of this tree was admired
and sought after by the curious antiquarian for nearly
one hundred years after the tree had been first set out
by Mr. Payne. It is now but a few years since the
place which knew it so long knows it no more, forever.
How unconscious Mr. Payne must have been while
planting that tree that lie was rearing a monument to
hand his humble name down to after generations. But so
it was. The descendants of Mr. Payne are now living at
"Wading River in this county. Mr. Elisha Mulford now
owns the old barn lot.
As previously stated, Jonathan F. Latham came in
possession of his late handsome and privileged farm
about the year 1800. In 1831 and 1835 he built a large
and convenient boarding house, which for comfort and
situation and its inviting prospects, was not surpassed
by any such establishment 011 this part of the island.
His table was at all times well furnished with whole
some, substantial food, and every reasonable attention
was extended to his numerous guests. Captain Latham
died in 1852 intestate, by reason of which his handsome
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 35
property descended to his ten children equally. Four
of his sons, namely, Joseph, Elias, Daniel and Moses,
are now living on and near the home farm. The large
boarding house, with five acres of land adjoining, they
have conveyed out of the family. It is, ho\vever, still
open to company who desire a rural residence during
the heat of summer.
The facilities for bathing, fishing, &c., &c., render
this situation assuredly inviting.
In the year 1700, which was fifty years after the first
settlement of our village there were not more than
twenty-four families, and which occupied about the
same number of tenements. The heads of those fami
lies were, commencing at the west end, viz. : Israel
Brown and his son Joseph, if at the time a married
man; 2d. Samuel Brown; 3d. Richard Brown, Jr. The
father, Richard Brown, Sr., died 1686. 4th. John Tut-
hill, Jr. ; 5th. Samuel King ; 6th. his father John King,
Sr., who must at this time have been a very aged man;
Tth. Edward Petty ; 8th. John Tuthill, 3d ; 9th. John
Pain and his son John ; 10th. John and Nathaniel
Moore ; llth. William King, father of Joseph, Jere
miah, &c., &c. ; 12th. John Terry, Jr. ; 13th. Jeremiah
Tail, Jr. ; 14th. Samuel Glover ; 15th. Caleb or John
Curtis ; 16th. William King, Sr. ; 17th. - - King ;
18th. Samuel Beebe, Jr. ; 19th. Jeremiah Yail ; 20th.
David Youngs ; 21st. Gideon Youngs, Jr., (the father
having died in 1699) ; 22d. Daniel Tuthill or his father
John Tuthill, Jr.
Now, allowing five persons to each family and say
36 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
twenty four families, which is two more than there
were houses, the number of inhabitants in Orient, at the
date of 1700, would be one hundred and twenty. At
six they would only number one hundred and forty-four.
If eight in a household one hundred and ninety-two.
At the close of 1700 there might have been somewhere
near the last named number. At this time no place of
worship, or I might say not any house for that purpose,
had been built, yet in that year a piece of ground was
purchased, on which it was designed to erect a temple
in which the God of our fathers should be worshiped,
as becomes Christians.
About 1752 Oysterpond neck, as it was then called,
contained not far from forty-five dwelling houses. Al
lowing six persons to each would give the number of
the inhabitants to be two hundred and seventy. At any
rate, at that day there was not more than three hundred,
giving an increase for the fifty years of about one hun
dred and fifty persons. In 1800 there were about sixty
dwellings. Allowing six to each, the number would be
three hundred and sixty, showing a gain in the last men
tioned fifty years of only sixty. From 1800 to the present
time there is about one hundred and thirty dwelling
houses. Supposing six to each family the number of
inhabitants would now be seven hundred and twenty.
I think we may set them down at seven hundred, an
increase in the last fifteen years of three hundred and
forty. It is two hundred and six years since the place
was first settled by the Browns, Tuthills, Kings and the
Youngs.
There is at this date but three dwelling houses re
maining of those previous to the year 1700, viz. : the
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL 37
one now occupied by John B. Youngs, the second by
Elisha Mulford, and the one, late the property of Capt.
Lyndes King. Mrs. Cynthia Champlin s, Aviah Young s
and Baldwin Petty s are about each one hundred and
twenty years old. The first was built in 1731 or 1732,
the second in 1730, and the third about 1716. There
are three or four others built near 1763 and 1770. The
late Major Nathaniel King s barn is yet standing. It
was built more than one hundred and sixty years ago.
Those pilgrim fathers of ours to this isolated penin
sula, were professors and possessors of the spirit of the
Gospel of Christ. They strictly adhered to the tenets
of the congregational plan of church government, agree
able to what is called the old Saybrook platform. Their
lives, many of them, we have been told by our parents
and grandparents, were conspicuous for great faith and
good wroks.
In 1700 a piece of ground was purchased on which
it.was designed to build a meeting house, as they had
now lived without such a desirable place of worship for
the long period of sixty-seven years.
Those who had horses and could with convenience,
weather permitting, attended meeting at Southold. To
that church, they of this place, professors, became
members, and continued so until one was organized
here, which was under Rev. Jonathan Barber, about
the year 1735. Near that time he took charge of the
congregation and was a much beloved preacher for some
years until about 1750. His letters, written in 1740,
are of the most pious cast. Of faith, hope and charity,
4
38 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
they speak in strains truly animating to the humble and
faithful believer.
In 1717, which was seventeen years after, a lot of land
had been purchased on which to erect a meeting house,
and they commenced erecting one suitable to their minds.
It was a singularly constructed temple, about thirty feet
square, two stories high, and on the top of the second
story was raised another square building ten feet square
and nine feet high, and then a finish something like the
lower part of a steeple, with an iron spire which sup
ported a sheet iron figure of a noble game cock, show
ing the course of the wind. It continued to do so with
unerring precision for a term of ninety years !
This curious building, to be set apart for sacred pur
poses, was raised in 1717, as said, but it appears did not
reach a partial finish until 1725, which was twenty-five
years after the ground was bought for one dollar and
twenty-five cents to set the edifice on. A Mr. Daniel
Brown finished oif the house in April 1725 and he lived
near seventy years afterward. He died in 1785, in l}is
eighty-ninth year.
As seventy-five years had passed away since the
Browns, Tuthills, Kings, Youngs, and others had first
come to this place, it must be supposed that these
early settlers all were gone to that bourne whence no
traveler returns. The actors in the erection of this
first church must have been the children and grand
children of those pious men. John Racket, Daniel Tut-
hill, Joseph Brown, Jeremiah Yail, Jr., John King,
Henry Tuthill, Sr., Gideon Young, Jr., and John Tut-
hill, 3d, with others, made up the number of the heads
of the families in this then young community. In 1725,
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 39
wlien the church was finished, Daniel Tutliill was forty-
five years old, Henry Tutliill, Sr. was fifty-seven, John
Racket fifty, Joseph Brown fifty years, John Tutliill, 3d
sixty-six years, Jeremiah Vail more than thirty years,
and John King over twenty-five. These were very ex
cellent, noble hearted men. John Racket, son to the
first of the family to this country, was the first deacon
of the church which was organized in what was then
called Oysterponds, about the year 1736 or 1737. There
was no stated preaching in the new meeting house until
Rev. Mr. Barber took the charge near 1738.
Mr. Barber was a man greatly and justly beloved
by his congregation, to whom in season and out of sea
son he ceased not to dispense the word of life in all its
purity and celestial worth. Some of his letters of that
day are yet shown. They are full of pious precepts and
well worth reading. We do not know how long Mr.
Barber s stay was, but should suppose near to 1757.
Previous to his leaving, a sore calamity came over his
family, the effects of which caused his removal to Gro-
ton, Connecticut, where his death took place in October,
1783.* Daniel Tutliill took the office of deacon about
1740. John Racket was continued with him.
The second minister was Rev. William Adams, who
continued here from November, 1758, to May 1759.
3d Was Rev. Joseph Lee, a quiet, meek, good
but infirm man. Faithful in the vineyard, at all times
dispensing the word of life equal to his strength and
ability. At the commencement of the war of the revo-
* Mr. Barber wrote what is called the Bank Articles, in Oysterponds.
The original is yet kept, but much mutilated by time. They were writ
ten in 1739.
40 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
lution, 1775, he removed to Lyme, where he died some
years after.
4th Was Rev. John Davenport, great-grandson to
the celebrated John Davenport, who came to !S"ew
Haven from England in 1637. Mr. Davenport settled
here in 1780 and left in 1783. His death took place in
Deerfield, JSTew Jersey, Jnly 13, 1821, aged 70 years.
5th Was Eev. Alexander Caddie, a broad yet dig
nified and very corpulent Scotchman. He was wel}
read in divinity and a sound expounder of the Scrip
tures, but his Scottish ideas of ministerial government
rendered his out of the pulpit manners unpopular with
his plain republican parishioners. He came in 1785
and left in 1788.
6th Was Rev. ^Tehemiah Baldin Cook, a young but
very pious man of twenty-four years of age. His stay
was only a short time in 1790. He was a promising
young preacher and was expected to have become a
luminary in the sphere of ministerial usefulness. But
alas ! it was otherwise to be. In May, 1792, at the early
age of twenty-five years the small pox terminated his
very useful life.
7th Was Rev. Isaac Overton, who was here once or
twice in the years 1794 and 1796. He died in August,
1799 at about forty years of age.
8th Was Rev. John Cram ; his stay with us was but
short only a part of the year 1799. He was a man of
the strictest zeal, as to outward rituals and church dis
cipline. His faith and hope, we admit ; but whether
his charity for other denominations was comfortable and
solid, we will not judge.
9th Was Rev. Emerson Foster, who came to us in
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 41
the early part of 1801, and left in 1805 or 1806. Mr.
Foster was a good, sound sermoiiizer, and a scholar
generally of poor health. While with us, his wife an
excellent woman died. This took place about 1806.
She was sister to Ebenezer and Justin Foot, merchants,
at that time in the city of New York.
10th Was Rev. Mr. Anderson, a man like Mepibos-
heth, Saul s son, lame in his foot. He came here in
1807 ; his doctrine was sound. He was not, in his
movements and address, prepossessing, and had no ear
for music.
11 th Was Rev. Ezra Haynes, whose stay was from
1808 to 1813. His beginning in this place was bright ;
he was much beloved ; taught our district school with
satisfaction, but in a moment of temptation he forsook
his marriage vows to a lovely wife, and he was com
pelled to seek an asylum among strangers.
12th Was a Rev. Mr. Smith ; his stay was a part of
the year 1814. A man of good information, handsome
talents, and an interesting speaker. We were at war
at this time with England, whose rules, measures and
conduct found no favor with him. He was warm, and
eloquent in portraying the dishonorable movements and
actions which marked the course of our enemy.
13th Was Rev. Nathan Dickerson, a very pious, ex-
amplary, sound man. His labors here were in the^year
1815. This sincere, upright and Christian man died
March 29, 1826, in his forty-seventh year.
14th Was Rev. Thomas James Deverel, an English
man, who had been serving his British Majesty on board
his war ships, commissioned to destroy those people
whom now he had become a preacher of righteousness
to. Mr. Deverel had been a lieutenant in the British
4*
42 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
navy in the war mentioned, and had left the service
without leave. He was assuredly a man of talents, but
too unguarded in his common intercourse with non-pro
fessors to maintain that moral dignity which becomes a
clergyman. His stay was little more than a year ; he
left in 1819 or 1820.
15th Was the venerable Jonathan Robertson. His
labors commenced with us in 1824, at which time his
age was more than seventy years. Faithfulness, indus
try and sincerity marked his daily course. He left in
1828. This godly and truly honest man died in 1848,
in his ninety-third year.
16th Was Rev. Phineas Robertson, son to the pre
ceding. He was a man of great learning, but with a
weak voice, rendering his delivery dull and unanima-
ting. His sermons were ably written, and often very
eloquent. Mr. Robertson has published a handsome
volume of poems, but the title of the book we do not
just now recollect. This gentleman came with us in
1828, and left in 1833.
17th As a minister in Gospel ordinances, was Rev.
Reuben Porter. His natural movements, address and
conversation was mild, cheerful, and rather preposses
sing his sermons instructive and generally well de
livered.
In his domestic relation, we should suppose his pa
tience was highly taxed. Mrs. Porter was one of the
most singular of wives. At home, nothing was right ;
everything was out of place, and no one was polished
sufficient to do that reverence which she conceived a
woman of her standing was at all times entitled to ; she
certainly was the most strange, odd in her conversation,
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 43
manners and movements, whether at home or abroad,
that I ever knew. With all these eccentricities, I be
lieve she was not a scold. Mr. Porter came in 1835,
and left in 1837.
18th Rev. Smith Gamage. This gentleman was of
a very serious and meditative mind, and seemed to view
his mission, as an ambassador of Christ, of the most so
lemn import. His stay with us was from 1837 to 1839.
19th Rev. Daniel Beers. He commenced his labors
in 1839, and as a faithful servant in the vineyard of his
Lord, continued his labors until 1844, when he left.
20th Rev. Phineas Blakeman. His intentions were,
no doubt, to do the work of a faithful servant ; but his -
common address and turn was far from prepossessing.
His time was from 1846 to 1848.
21st Rev. Henry Clark. He came in 1849 and left
in 1855. Mr. Clark was a man of excellent qualities
and amiable manners ; a great lover of improvement in
knowledge and morals. His efforts have produced the
best church choir in our county, if not on our entire
island. May the blessing of Abraham s God rest upon
him.
I have noticed the first meeting house in Orient,
when built, how long it stood, <fcc., &c. ; and I should
have added that the celebrated George "Whitfield de
livered one or two sermons in that old temple.
In the summer of 1818, this old church edifice was
taken down, having stood just one hundred years. On
its site, the same season, a new and larger one was put
up, and finished in a plain, substantial manner. Its
44 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
chief or master workman was Joseph Glover, Jr., of
Southold. The first sermon delivered in this new house
was by the venerable Elisha Gillet, a seven-day Baptist,
of fourscore or more years. His text was John xxi,
16 tli and 17th verses.
This second church edifice, after standing twenty-six
years, was, by the next generation, whose views dif
fered from their ancestors, taken down, and a more spa
cious and elegant one built on its site, with a neat
spire ; a bell, too, to notify the hour for worship. A
Mr. Joseph Lamb was the master builder of this third
house. They have bought a few rods joining the old
site, which gives more room for carriages, a good
shed, &c.
In 1700, the ten or twelve rods of ground to build the
meeting house on cost one dollar and twenty-five cents ;
in 1843, eight or nine rods added to the first purchase,
cost fifty dollars. Thus, we see ten shilling in 1700 was
worth four hundred shillings in 1843. How things
change !
The following are the names of the head of each
family in what was called Oysterponds in 1775, begin
ning at the Dam, as it was then called, now " Dam
Pcmd:"-
1. Nathaniel Tuthill, 5. Amon Taber, Sr.
2. Eleazar Truman, 6. Amon Taber, Jr.
3. Jonathan Truman, 7. Frederick Taber,
4. George Brown, with his 8. Richard Brown, Sr.
widowed mother, late the 9. Christopher Brown,
wife of Benjamin Brown, 10. Richard Brown, Jr.
Esq., who died the year 1 1 . Jonathan Tuthill,
before, 12. Christopher Tuthill,
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
45
13. Henry Tuthill, Jr.
this year,
14. John King,
15. Noah Terry,
16. Peter Vail,
17. Peter Griffin,
18. James Griffin,
19. Jonathan Youngs,
20. Jonathan Youngs, Jr
21. Gideon Youngs,
22. Gideon Youngs, Jr.
23. Nathaniel King,
24. Daniel Tuthill,
25. Ezekiel Glover,
26. Zebulon King,
27. Joseph Youngs,
28. Asa King,
29. Parson House,
30. Jeremiah Tuthill,
31. Jeremiah Tuthill, Jr.
32. Benjamin King,
33. Peter Tuthill,
34. Jeremiah King,
35. Barnabas Tuthill,
Died 36. John Tuthill,
37. John Tuthill, Jr.
38. Col. Thomas Terry,
39. Joseph Petty,
40. Jonathan King,
41. Joseph King,
42. Joseph Terry,
43. John Terry,
44. Jeremiah Vail,
45. Grover Glover, or his
father Charles,
46. Jonathan Terry,
47. Jonathan Terry, Jr.
48. Nathan Newbury,
49. William King,
50. Thomas Vail,
51. His father, Stephen Vail,
52. James King,
53. Samuel Beebe,
54. Henry Youngs,
55. Rufus Tuthill,
56. Warren Youngs,
57. Augustus Griffin.
The names of the heads of families and their ages, in
1855, in Orient, formerly Oysterpoiids :
Ages.
1. James H. McDermott, 45
2. Daniel Way, 45
3. Jonathan Truman, 64
4. Elias T. King, 54
5. Henry Racket, 34
6. Andrew J. Racket, 32
7. William T. Conklirie, 48
8. Daniel Dickerson, 46
9. Peter V. Tuthill, 50
10. Wd. Rebecca Tuthill, 74
11. ElishaS. Racket, 44
Ages.
12. John Bela, 35
13. David A. Tuthill, 48
14. Edmund Brown, 41
15. Baldwin Petty, 53
16. Thomas Pool, 45
17. John Adams, 45
18. Samuel Taber, 76
19. Francis W. Youngs, 51
20. John A. Racket, 46
21. David Beebe, 50
22. Marcus B. Brown, 38
46
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Ages.
23. Ephraim King, 54 62.
24. Wd. Phebe King, 81 63.
25. Frederick Taber, 79 64.
26. Ezekiel N. Glover, 52 65.
27. Joseph C. Havens, 49 66.
28. Elijah Beckford, 52 67.
29. Lucretia Wiggins, 70 68.
30. Rev. N. C. Lewis, 69.
31. Smith Dewy, 32 70.
32. Wd. Cynthia Cham- 71.
plin, 56 72.
33. Wd. Jane Case, 73.
34. Smith Jones, 32 74.
35. Isaac Davis, 30 75.
36. John Brown, 75 76.
37. Elias Terry, 70 77.
38. John Terry, 56 78.
39. William Griffin Corwin,36 79.
40. Thomas V. Youngs, 64 80.
41. Jeremiah Youngs, 38 81.
42. Wd. Jemiah Case, 58 82.
43. William Potter, 60 83.
44. Absalom King, 48 84.
45. Marvin Holmes, 54 85.
46. James Glover, 56 86.
47. Ezra Youngs, 46 87.
48. Luther Tuthill, 30 88.
49. Watson Youngs, 58 89.
50. Zilla Youngs, 50 90.
51 Benjamin M. Youngs, 44 91.
52. James W. Youngs, 55 92.
53. Seth B. Taber, 44 93.
54. Jefferson Youngs, 54 94.
55. Wd. Julia Dyer,
56. Wd. Esther Taber, 64 95.
57. William H. Wilcox, 49 96.
58. Lord W. Gillet, 35 97.
59. Lester Beebe, 30 98.
60. David Davis, 28 99.
61. Aviah Youngs, 82 100.
Ages.
Gelston Vail, 57
Abraham King, 51
Henry Dyer, 49
David Vail, 29
David T. Grover, 53
Calvin M. King, 58
Wd. Harriet King, 46
Luther King, 46
William Webb, 31
Lester B. Terry, 39
Henry Haynes, 35
Wd. Dolly Vail, 62
Lewis Tuthiil, 42
Wd. Sally King, 70
Wd. Hetty Tuthill, 70
Samuel Taber, Jr. 41
Rev. Daniel Beers, 68
Warren Beebe, 36
Henry H. Terry, 54
William Terry, 37
Deacon Peter Brown, 73
Rev. Henry Clark. 44
Noah Tuthill, 56
Wd. Hetty Brown,
Wd. Polly Tuthill, 65
William S. Hobart, 56
Benjamin Terry, 48
William Youngs, 48
Sibil Tuthill, 48
John Brown, Jr. 41
Jasper Y. Tuthill, 65
Franklin Tuthill, 35
Jeremiah Tuthill, at
Wd. Phoebe s,
William H. Tuthill, 61
John B. Youngs, 46
Wd. Matsey Tuthill, 83
Henry Stanton, 45
Daniel Beebe, 74
Elias Latham, 44
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
47
Ages.
101.
Elisha Mulford,.
66
119.
102.
David Petty,
59
120.
103.
Wd. Prudence Petty,
84
121.
104.
John S. Petty,
54
122.
105.
Orange Petty,
60
123.
106.
Sylvester Beebe,
42
124.
107.
Moses Latham,
37
125.
108.
Peter W, Tuthill,
53
126.
109.
Henry King,
127.
110.
William Potter, Jr.
128.
111.
Monroe Conkline,
37
129.
112.
Daniel Terry,
46
130.
113.
John Youngs, colored,
33
131.
114.
Moses J. Terry,
28
132.
115.
Daniel Terry,
26
133.
116.
Wd. Marie Terry,
52
134.
117.
Joseph Latham,
53
135.
118.
David Youngs,
58
136.
Daniel Latham,
Benjamin Mulford,
David Edwards,
Newel Vail,
Kimble Coffin,
Elisha H. Mulford,
Lewis Edwards,
Sylvia Edwards,
John Terry, Jr.
Nathan Champlin,
Francis Kofendaffer,
Samuel B. Petty,
Andrew H. Latham,
John B. Youngs, Jr.
George M. Vail,
Jeremiah Vail,
Jonathan Latham, Jr.
Bradford.
Ages.
40
35
36
43
64
I have previously noticed the number of inhabitants
in Orient at its first settlement, viz. : 1650, and so on
to 1TOO, 1750, 1800 to 1855. It is nearly correct. I
have also previously mentioned the heads of each family
that was living in the place in 1775. Kow, alas! of the
three hundred and thirty-six souls living in 1775, there is
not of that number now living to exceed twenty. Surely,
as Dr. Youngs says, "all, all on earth is shadow."
Severe cold weather, or a very violent storm, which
drives vessels ashore, unroofs houses, and barns, is at the
time, generally pronounced the hardest and most extra
ordinary ever known. Such is the common expression in
the midst of such desolation. The past grows less in
the distance. So it is with large objects near us, but
48 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
remove them far away and they dwindle into scarce
perceptible objects. But the great snow storm of 1717,
which is one hundred and thirty-nine years ago, as yet,
we believe, stands without its equal, as to its quantity
of snow. In this place (Orient) it covered a number of
houses which were a story and a half to the chamber
windows. The elder Jonathan Youngs, who was at the
time thirty-two years old and lived to see his ninety-
third year, would often get his children and grandchil
dren around him and repeat in vivid colors the effects
and vastness of that wonderful storm of snow. On the
morning after the snow many of the families were
obliged to pass out of their chamber windows, as their
dwellings were buried up to that height completely
with snow ! He said sheep, swine, cattle, and poultry,
many of them were buried entirely up, for weeks. A
small house on Plumb Island, in which an old lady lived,
was entirely buried up with snow. However, the peo
ple mustered with shovels and other implements and
soon succeeded in restoring her to daylight, liberty, and
comfort. My grandfather, Samuel Griffin, was at the
time seven years old ; remembered well the commotion
and astonishment of the people of the town in expe
riencing such an unheard of storm. Dr. Marther, of
Boston, in his history of those early times, observes that
it was supposed to be the greatest fall of snow within
the memory of man. In Boston, where he was residing,
he says, it was twenty feet deep, and more in some
places. It happened in February. As yet it stands
without its equal in snow storms.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 49
Somewhere near the year 1740, a Mr. Richard Shaw
built a small wharf at the foot of the road or lane, as it
was then called. The east side of said wharf was on the
west line of Gideon and Jonathan Youngs farm, at the
landing. It was not more than sixteeen feet wide, and
from what I saw of its relics, I should not think its
length more than sixty or seventy feet.
The wharf w r as built much as our fathers in olden
time made their crib water fences. Logs, round, on the
sides locked together, so as to secure small and larger
stone, with which they filled it. This first wharf in our
town stood some years, but as vessels in those days were
few and small, there was but little use made of it. In
1774 a heap of ruins marked the spot where, what we,
then children, were taught to call the " Old Wharf."
This Mr. Shaw built himself a house within ten rods
of his said wharf ; a two story double house, that is, two
front rooms on the road, yet not more than twenty feet
rear or wide ; very inconvenient, as much too narrow
for a kitchen. This house, the timber of which was all
. of white oak, with all the frame which was not covered
was handsomely planed and beaded. There w r as little
or no wall in the house, but the finish was ceiling. The
upper rooms remained unfinished until 1790. It was
built about 1730.
Mr. Shaw failed to realize what he greatly expected
in his wharf, house, &c., &c., sold out his whole pro
perty, and with his goods, chatties, &c., removed to
Acquebogue, about twenty miles west. His descen
dants are yet living in that vicinity.
It was out of one the chamber windows of this house
5
50 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
that my father leaped, as is particularly noticed here
after.
On the site of the old wharf just described, in the
year 1829, Capt. Caleb Dyer commenced building one
of wider and longer dimensions, but by no means of
sufficient solidity to withstand time and storms. It
proved the truth of the sacred text, which says the
house built on the sand, will not stand ; so with this
second wharf. In nineteen years it became a w r reck,
unfit to safely moor a vessel. This dock was erected
eighty-nine years after the one by Mr. Shaw. The lat
ter was twenty-five feet wide and one hundred feet long.
In January, 1848, a number of our farmers and boat
men petitioned the legislature for and obtained a char
ter to build a good substantial wharf in shares of fifty
dollars each. After buying out Capt. Dyer s title to
all claims in his dock and its appurtenances, they set
about erecting something more solid and secure for ves
sels of almost any size. In about a year from its com
mencement, a wharf of two hundred feet long and thirty
feet wide was completed, with the materials entirely of
stone. The laying the wall was superintended by that
ingenous and industrious man, Thomas Yincent Youngs.
In 1740 there were ten pieces of ordnance, what we
call cannon, sent from ISTew York to the towns of
Southold and Southampton five of them to the first
mentioned town and five to the latter. Three of them
were directed to the care of Richard Brown, Jr., and
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 51
John Tuthill, where they were to be kept until needed.
Two of them were placed on the top of what was then
called Pasture Hill. We well remember seeing them
there in the year 1774. The other one was placed
within three or four rods before Richard Brown s door.
Five of the ten guns as noticed, were directed
to a Mr. Miller and D. Gardiner, of South or East
Hampton. We have been informed that there were
three more of those ordnance sent to Oysterpond
Point, but we never knew of any until Col. Livings
ton built a small fort there in 1775. That breast
work was soon abandoned and the guns sent to Say-
brook. They have never been returned to this town,
as they ought in justice to have been.
Here I present a copy of the identical advertisement
notifying the sale of the south part of the farm of the
late Captain David Webb, on which Greenport is built.
AUCTION.
"Will positively be sold, at auction, on Thursday,
23d March, instant, at nine o clock A. M., on the pre
mises : the valuable messuage, farm and outlands of
Capt. David Webb (deceased). The said farm is divi
ded into lots and accurately surveyed for the better
convenience of purchasers. Whoever is desirous of spec
ulation it is presumed would do well to attend said sale.
ELIZABETH WEBB, Executrix.
SAMUEL TERRY, ) Fnsfryfor( ,
JEREMIAH MOOEE, } ***
AUGUSTUS GRIFFIN, Auctioneer.
Dated Sterling, 3d March, 1820
52 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
The land sold as per advertisement, lies south of the
small road leading to the landing, at the mouth of a
creek, through which the waters of a pond,* the larger
part of which is owned by the - heirs of the late Judge
Thomas Youngs, pass into the bay of Shelter Island
Ferry. At this place there is the remains of an old
wharf, where at high water vessels of some fifty tons
could lade and discharge their freight, sixty years
ago. On the South side of this narrow road is about
two or three acres of land, on which are the old
houses of the late Daniel Harris, Henry Beebe and
Capt. Orange Webb. At the head of this road stands,
in venerable majesty, the old mansion of the late
Capt. Joseph Booth in olden times it was conspicuous
as the inn of Lieutenant Constant Booth. In the house
of the late Captain Orange Webb, the celebrated George
Whitfield, on a pane of glass, with a diamond, wrote
these memorable words, viz. : " One thing is needful."
This pane of glass is yet entire, although written on in
1T63, having withstood unscathed, the storms of more
than four score years. The house, with its large estab
lishment, was Thomas Farming s, a country merchant,
and at the time of much note as a man of the world.
Well, the farm was sold -struck off to the highest
bidder or bidders, viz.: Daniel T. Terry, Esq., Silas
Webb and Joshua Tuthill.
Their joint bid was about $2,300. It was bought as
a speculation, to be sold in pieces of ten or twenty
* On the north shore of this pond a Mr. Holbrook, from New York, has
erected a splendid house, which, with the grounds, about six acres, and
other improvements, cost near $22,000.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 53
acres for agricultural purposes. There was at the time
no road through any part of it or improvements, more
than any other tilled lot or farm. Be sure its situation
was beautiful, as being bounded southerly and easterly
on the pleasant shores of Shelter Island Ferry, where is
formed one of the best harbors in the State. Thus it
was with the site on which Greenport now stands, in
March 1820.
Now, in 1856, Greenport contains about 250 dwelling
houses, about sixteen stores, besides two large shoe
stores, six hotels, four or five mantuamakers and milli
ners, three doctors, one dentist, five churches, four
schools, three ship yards, four wharves, ten whaling
ships, witli a large number of schooners, sloops and
smaller vessels. Here the railroad from Brooklyn ter
minates.
Thirty-six years have gone since that sale, and with
them the executors, the purchasers and a large part of
the numerous company in attendance !
On the third day of June, 1836, the corner stone of
a methodist meeting house was laid in Orient. The
ceremony of laying it was by the hands of the Rev.
Samuel W. King, son-in-law of Mr. Thomas V. Youngs.
Mr. King is a young clergyman of that order from ~New
York city, of prepossessing, pleasant, engaging address,
with talents, energy and religious zeal, well fitting for
so sacred a work. It was a solemn, affecting and inte
resting season to the goodly number convened to wit
ness the eventful and devout occasion. The justly ap-
5*
54 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
propriate, very feeling remarks by Mr. King, with a
closing, heart-melting prayer, rendered the scene truly
imposing and sublime :
Tliis era in the history of the first rise of that pious
denomination took place just one hundred years after
the first congregational church edifice was built, in
what was then called Oysterponds, and one hundred
and ninety-six years after the first landing of our pil
grim fathers at Southold. The first methodist minister
who came to this place, to tarry any considerable time,
was the Rev. John Finnagan, an Englishman, about
thirty-three years of age. He was a man of mild and
rather amiable deportment, persevering, unwavering
and of sound and strong faith in the Gospel ordinances,
as held by Mr. John Wesley, whom lie, Mr. Finnegan
said, had heard preach. He came to this place late
in the autumn of 1802. As people here know but little
about that society, and that little was such as to preju
dice them, the doors were shut against his preaching in
their houses or church. His first stop was at our house.
We were then keeping a school and invited him to
preach in the school house. Some were offended, but
all that heard him were pleased and some were com
forted by this coming of Titus, as they called it.
His first three or four visits made quite a stir with
the opposition. The cry by some was loud to forbid
his entering the school house as a preacher : " he will
break us all to pieces as a society, and if we let
him alone we shall loose our place (and as the Jews
said) and nation." In the course of the winter his
hearers increased; his discourses were to the point, and
refreshing to the possessor of that faith once delivered
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 55
to the saints. Before the spring opened Daniel T. Terry,
Amoii Taber, Oapt. Jeremiah Youngs and others, were
favorable towards him, and the consequence was, the
school houses were all open freely for him to preach in.
Thus we believe, that John Finnegan planted the first
seed of methodism in Orient. What a conspicuous tree
it has produced ! IVlay its sacred fruit yet be partaken
by all the nations of the earth, and the malady which
sin has made, receive a perfect and heavenly cure !
In April, 1803, this gentleman left, never to return.
Thus stood the evangelical affairs of the society in
Orient in 1803. Now there is a convenient church edi
fice, well furnished, and a respectable number compris
ing the society. Surely, the small cloud which ap
peared just above the horizon, not larger than a man s
hand, has overspread this region, and showers of Divine
grace have descended to enliven the drooping plants in
this vineyard. And all this wonderful revolution of
solid good, with no division in the Congregational church
or its order, has ever arose from Mr. Fiimegan s sojourn
here. No. I believe he was sent to comfort the hearts
of many who are now rejoicing with him where God is
all in all, " and Love unbounded reigns."
From 1803, ministers of this denomination very sel
dom came to us for several years. Not far from 1820,
Rev. Cyrus Foss came. He was a warm, well-in
formed, sound, good preacher ; his discourses carried
conviction and love with them ; his manners and con
versation were peace, and prepossessing. The meeting
house was open for him when our stated preacher was
not using it.
The 3rd in succession was Eev. Oliver Amerman, a
56 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
pleasant, agreeable man, and an acknowledged ex
pounder of the Word oi Truth.
4th Was Rev. John Lucky, a mild, kind-hearted
man. To be acquainted with him, was to feel to es
teem his society.
5th Was Rev. Theron Osborne, faithful and per
severing.
6th Rev. James Rawson, industrious ard zealous in
his sacred vocation.
7th Rev. Samuel W. King, particularly noticed be
fore.
8th The Rev. Joseph Henson, who was solemnly
devoted and attentive to his honorable and holy call
ing.
9th Rev. Charles B. Sing, who served or studied
some time at the Military School, at West Point. Af
ter graduating at that institution, he joined the Ameri
can army in Texas, as a commissioned officer ^be
lieve, a lieutenant. He was in one or two battles.
From religious doubts about using the sword, as Peter
did, he put it in its sheath, and set about securing the
sword of the Spirit of the everlasting Gospel, to go
forth into its spacious field, and fight manfully under
the banner of the Cross. May he greatly succeed. If
faithfulness marks his course, a crown of righteousness
assuredly awaits him.
10th Rev. George Hollis, a man full of the milk of
human kinkness, benevolence, united with grace,
which is greater than faith, and hope, viz : charity.
llth Rev. Bazalel How ; venerable for age, and
sound Christian experience. There was at all times,
when in conversation with his friends, an interesting,
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 57
complacent smile enlivening his pleasing countenance.
I have known the solid force of his invaluable disin
terestedness, kindness and marked civilities, in my in
terviews with him in New York.
12th Was Eev. James Bouton, a man of talents,
and, we trust, of sound heart and religion of sterling
decision and much suavative address.
13th Was Eev. Francis 0. Hill. May we not say
he possessed virtues of the purest cast, with a noble
ness of heart, which, at all times, revolted at every
semblance of duplicity ; a prudent, industrious laborer
in the Gospel vineyard.
14th Was Eev. Levi S. Weed, of prepossessing ad
dress, now of spirits, and quite gifted in the powers of
public declamation and well turned periods. Mr.
Weed, although young, was of much promise.
15th Eev. Nathan Tibbals. He was a man of
handsome literary acquirements, honest, faithful and
persevering in the good and Divine cause.
Died, in April, 1801, Dr. Jonathan Havens, of Hog-
neck, near Sag Harbor, in his sixty-eighth year. In all
that endears the name of father, husband, neighbor and
friend, he, at all times, shone in the fairest light ge
nerous and charitable, invaluable, assuredly, as a citizen
and physician. He left a handsome property to his
eight surviving children, viz: Barret, John T., Ga
briel, Philetus, Jenet, Harriet, Abigail and Henrietta.
Died, in New York, very suddenly, in April, 1839,
Gabriel Havens, son of the above, aged seventy years.
He had led a very industrious and active life ; was for
58 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
some years a respectable captain of a tine ship. In
one of his voyages he was at St. Petersburg, in Russia.
Was some years Harbor Master in New York. In the
several relations of life, he was altogether a good,
noble-hearted man.
John Tuthill, who with his household made one of
the thirteen families, before mentioned, is supposed by
some of his descendants to have been the father of a
number of children at the time. Two of his sons set
tled in the upper part of Cutcliogue, where there are
now a number of families, his descendants. How
long he stopped at Southold before going to Orient, we
know not. Mr. Thompson, in his history of Long Island,
thinks that John Tuthill, the Browns, Youngs and John
King were the first purchasers of land in this place, and
that as early as 1644 or 1645. If so, John Tuthill must
have remained in the neighborhood of Southold three
or four years. I believe that he, with his associates,
made their settlement at Orient, as soon as 1642 or
1643. The Browns and Kings made their chief pur
chase on the west part of Orient ; Tuthill and Youngs
east of them, as before particularly described.
By examining old documents of the seventeenth cen
tury, we tind that John Tuthill, Sr. was concerned in
quite a number of pieces and parcels of lands, and was
a man of much consideration in this town. He, with
his son John, Jr., appears to be concerned in three or
four farms, on which they erected tenements, but in
which of them was his, John Tuthill s, Sr., permanent
abiding place, I could never learn, or when and in
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 59
which of them he died, no one can tell us ; nor his age,
although we believe him to have been far advanced in
years at the time of his death. He was living in 1686,
forty-six years after he came to Southold. John Tut-
hill, Jr., son to the above, was born July 16th, 1635.
He was five years old at the time he, with his father,
landed at Southold. Whether he was the oldest son,
as it appears there were several sons, we are unable to
say, but it is said, and no doubt it is correct, that two
of the elder John Tuthill s sons settled at Cutchogue, as
early as 1655 or 1666. Their descendants at that place
now say the names of these two brothers were James
and Joshua. James had a son named Freegift, who
about the years 1708 or 1710, went into Orange
county, New Windsor. Here he took command of
a sloop in which he sailed to and from New York,
with freight and passengers once a week. This Free-
gift left a son, who was living a respectable farmer,
with a likely family of children, in 1794, near the
village of Goshen. His name was Nathaniel Tutliill.
His grandchildren and great-grandchildren are now
living in and around that country. John Tuthill, Jr.,
came with his father to Oysterponds, and when his age
would admit was concerned with his father generally
in his tracts and parcels of land in this place, with the
houses erected thereon. We have noticed these build
ings already, when they were built and how long they
stood.
John Tuthill, Jr. was twice married. His first wife
was Deliverance King, to whom he was married Feb
ruary 17th, 1657.
Their children were 1st. John, born February 14th,
60 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
1658, died 26th November, 1754, aged ninety-six
years, nine months and twelve days. 2d. Elizabeth,
born January 19th, 1661. 3d. Henry, born May
1st, 1665. 4th. Hannah, born Nov. 7th, 1667. 5th.
Abigail, born October 17th, 1670 ; died June 6th,
1705. 6th. Dorothy, born October 6th, 1674; died
24th February, 1688. 7th. Deliverance, born August
2d, 1677; died 17th February, 1683. 8th. Daniel, born
January 25th, 1679 ; died December 7th, 1762, aged
eighty-three years, ten months and sixteen days. 9th.
Nathaniel, born November 10th, 1683 and died Decem
ber 18th, 1705, aged twenty-two years, one month and
eight days.
His second wife was Sarah Youngs, to whom he was
married May 28th, 1690. By her he had one child, a
daughter. She lived about eight years. It appears
from the old deeds and his purchases of those days, that
he was a prominent business man, and was held in re
spectable consideration by the community at large;
and the same may be said of his father, who with his
household, was one of the thirteen families already
mentioned.
John Tuthill, Jr., died October l2th, 1717, aged
eighty-two years and three months. His first wife,
Deliverance, died January 25th, 1688. She was daugh
ter to the first John King, before mentioned.
John Tuthill, 3rd, grandson of the elder John Tut
hill, as referred to, by information handed down, was a
wise and very useful man in his day. From 1690 to
1740, he was in public life, as to what was of interest
to this place and the town. He was chosen as a mem
ber of the Assembly of this State, then a colony of
GBJFFIN S JOURNAL. 61
Great Britain, in the years 1693, 1694, 1695 and 1698.
It is said his school education was small, but his judg
ment, as an adviser and calculator, was large and much
thought of. His skill, or genius, in solving the most
intricate questions in arithmetic was assuredly, as we
are informed, very extraordinary. Although not a man
of letters, he was held in high esteem for his prudence
and sterling sagacity. A piece of chalk was generally
his pen and pencil ; the most difficult questions in
figures he would answer readily with a piece of chalk;
his slate or paper was a piece of board or on the rail
fence. For this mode of his doing business in this line
of accounts, he was proverbially known for the last
fifty years of his useful life, and after his death for fifty
years more, his name was respectfully mentioned as
" Chalker John." It is now one hundred years since
his death, at which time he was ninety-six years, nine
months and twelve days old. In many old deeds and
conveyances may now be seen the signature of John
Tuthill, the man who made so good a use of chalk. It
is probable he held the office of Justice of the Peace,
since the title of " Esquire " was often given him. Of
his family, we know but little who was his wife, or
of what family. Only two of his children, a son and
daughter, we know anything of, viz : John, who was
John Tuthill, the fourth in succession, and daughter
Dorothy. Dorothy was married to Joseph Brown,
Esq. Two of Joseph s sons names were, first, Joseph
Brown, Jr., who married Mehitable, the daughter of
Jeremiah Yail, Jr., by whom he had eighteen children.
Himself and his wife have set down to the table to eat
6
62 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
with sixteen of their children with them at the time.
George Miller, Esq., of Riverhead, a lawyer, is a grand
child of the said Joseph and Mehitable. Benjamin,
the other son, married his mother s niece, John Tnthill
4th s daughter, by whom he had seven children.
Benjamin was a Justice of the Peace and a Deacon of
a church. He died in 1774, an excellent, good man.
Benjamin Brown, by his wife, Mary, had seven child
ren, viz : Gershom, Israel, George, Elizabeth, Jemima,
Mary and Bethia.
John Tnthill, 4th, died in 1743, aged sixty years,
near eleven years before his father. He left four sons,
viz: Jeremiah, John, Samuel and James. Jeremiah
married Dorothy, the daughter of Jonathan Youngs,
Sr., and settled down on one of his father s farms in
this place, where he lived respected until past his seven
tieth year. At this late day in life, his circumstances,
as to property, were such as to oblige him to part with
the dear home of his youth in his old age. He re
moved to Ashamomac, about seven miles west, where
he lived with his second son, Jeremiah. He had, pre
vious to leaving his old home, become a widower. His
last days were solitary and very lonely. At the age of
about eighty-five years, and in 1808, he died, and not a
stone tells where his body lies.
John, the second son, settled on the old homestead of
his late father. The house at this time is owned and oc
cupied by John B. Youngs. As it stands in a valley, or
hollow, Mr. Tnthill was called Hollow John, whether
to designate him from some other John, I know not ;
but by that appellation he was known for more than
sixty years. He was an upright, honest man. He had
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 63
one son, John, the sixth, and a daughter, who was mar
ried to Thomas Youngs, son of the Judge. John Tut-
hill, who was John the 5th, died in 1795, eighty-six
years of age.
Samuel, third son of John Tuthill, 4th, was educated
as a Doctor of Physic. When he supposed himself
competent to practice, he removed into the State of
New Jersey, where prosperity attended him in his pro
fession, and respectability crowned all his business
movements. He became a Judge of the court, and
was held in honorable repute until age rendered him
unable to continue in those public stations, which he
had filled with honor to himself and satisfaction to his
numerous friends. We know not the time of his death,
which was at an advanced age.
James, the fourth son of John Tuthill, 4th. settled in
Orange County, State of JS T ew York, about the year
1750. He has now many of his descendants of that
name in and around that region. We well remember
one of his sons, who was much known and respected,
as a purchaser of beef cattle for the Philadelphia mar
ket. He was greatly esteemed by the drovers from that
city, in the years 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793 and 1794. His
name was Jonathan, but known more particularly
through his town, by all grades and colors, as " Captain
Tuthill." His death took place February, 1802, aged
seventy-two years ; born, 1727. One of his sons, John,
born March, 1760, became a colonel of militia. Some
years previous to his death, he sold the old homestead
of his fathers, and removed, with his family, to Che-
mung County, near Elmira, where he died February
27, 1845, aged eighty-live years. His very talented
64 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
and amiable son, Green Miller Tuthill, was clerk of
that county in 1849.
The first fifteen or twenty families who came to this
place, were, we are informed, strictly religious and
punctual in observing all the ordinances of Gospel
worship, as far as their limited means and isolated situ
ation would permit. Their confession of faith was con
gregational, and Calvinistical to the letter. Many of
them, viz : the Brown s, Youngs , TuthilPs, King s and
Yail s families, with others, all appeared to fear God
and eschew evil.
Deacon Daniel Tuthill, as before observed, was the
eighth child of John Tuthill 2d. He married Mehita-
ble, the widow of Peter Bradley. She, when a girl,
was Mehitable Horton, grand-daughter to Barnabus
Horton, who was with Daniel Tuthill s grandfather in
the first boat which landed at Southold.
His children by his wife Mehitable, to whom he was
married about 1705, were viz. :
Nathaniel, born about 1708, died 1731 ; Daniel, born
near 1710, died 1768 ; Noah, born about 1712, died
1766.
Patience married John Havens of Moriches.
Mehitable married Thomas Terry, brother to my
grandfather, Jonathan Terry, whose wife as noticed, was
Lydia. These brothers married sisters. Lydia died 1780.
Abigail married Henry Havens, of Moriches. Her
husband s temper was such as to render her life with
him very miserable. She was a woman of great pa
tience and sound piety.
Mary married Nathan Tuthill, of Acquebogue. We
believe Mehitable must have been the oldest, as she
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL 65
was the late Col. Thomas Terry s mother, and he was
born near 1730. These amiable daughters, and, it is
said, very beautiful women, all died betwixt the years
1770 and 1783.
Nathaniel Tuthill, Sr., the first son of Deacon Daniel
Tuthill, was married to the daughter of Samuel King
about 1730. He, while crossing Plumgut, in March,
1731, was drowned. He left an infant son who was
named Nathaniel. His widow married Jonathan
Racket, of Rockypoint, by whom she had six children,
whose names were Jonathan, born 1740, died 1825 ;
Daniel, born about 1744, died 1801; Absalom, born
1746, died 1786; Samuel, born 1751, died 1826 ; John,
born 1752, died 1793 ; Hannah was married to Sylva-
nus Brown, of Acquebogue.
These sons all lived to have families, and were re
spectable men. Samuel was conspicuous as a farmer,
and his many civilities to travelers, especially those
from Long Island to his part of the country which was
near Goshen, in Orange county. To this part of the
State he had gone when a young man arid married a
daughter of Silas Youngs, who was one of the four broth
ers who left Long Island for Goshen in 1733. They
were the sons of Gideon Youngs, Jr.
Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel Tuthill, who was
drowned, March 1731, was brought up by his grand
parents on his father s side, and was promised his part
of the paternal estate which was designed for his father
as the oldest son. But the two remaining sons had chil
dren. Their father grew deep in years ; their mother
heard their counsel, and this grandson, the orphan boy,
66 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
was assigned a farm amidst the bogs and swamps of Ash-
amomac, where, in laboring, he took a cold, which ter
minated his life, April, 1768, aged thirty-seven years.
He was a man of sound sense and a good companion;
industrious, pious, and benevolent ; a better husband,
kinder father, and accommodating neighbor was not
known. Such was Nathaniel Tuthill, Jr., whose re
mains now repose in the cemetery at Ashamomac ; a
stone marks his grave. He was twice married. His
first wife was Michel, daughter of Gideon and Rachel
Youngs. By her he had one child, a daughter, named
Michel, who married George Brown. She died in
Orange county, New York, near eighty years of age.
The first wife of Mr. Tuthill died about 1756. In
1760 he was married to his second wife, Mary, the
daughter of Constant and Abigail Havens, of Hogneck.
Constant Havens died 1761 ; his wife in 1748. By this
second marriage his children were Mary, born Janu
ary, 1761, died in her 85th year ; Hannah, born. May,
1762, died January 8th, 1855 ; Betsy, born August,
1764 ; Abigail, born October, 1766 ; Lucretia, born
July 14th, 1768, died May 18th, 1849.
Mary, the excellent and very justly beloved mother
of these children, was a woman of great piety and faith
in the Gospel. Her walk, conversation, manner, and
humble submission to the methods of divine Providence,
amidst the many and severe trials incident to the for
lorn state of lonely widowhood, truly testified to an
ungrateful world the goodness of her heart and the
force of that confidence and trust which she put in the
widow s God and orphan s friend. She died in Novem
ber, 1822, aged eighty-seven years. She was born in
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 67
1735 ; I think in August. She, as before said, was the
daughter of Constant Havens, of what is called Hog-
neck, adjoining Sagharbor. He was the son of George
Havens, who was son to the first of the family to t!ii>
then new country. Constant by the will of his father
came in possession of the whole neck, which contained
eight hundred acres of land, of excellent quality.
The word of truth says "let another praise thee Mid
not thine own lips." It truly requires wisdom and
prudence to tell our OW T II history in pleasing color* r
all, yet a brief notice of my morning and noon of life
will be of some interest to my children and descendants.
I was the second child of James and Deziah GriHin :
their second son ; born in the second month of the year;
on the second day of the month ; the second day of the
week, and who knows but the second day or week, of
the moon !
My earliest recollections are of living with my grand
parents, Jonathan and Lydia Terry, a week or two oc
casionally, when about three or four years old.
among the many, of this first of grandmother s
precepts to her children and grandchildren, given in
pure, old fashioned parental love, was while en ring
their piece of cake, or bread and butter, between meal-.
to sit still and not move around and play with vict ual<
in their hands. To play with cake and bread she -said
was a waste and sin. This prudent and holy advice \vas
worthy of the mothers whose virtues brightened in
"gathering up the fragments, that nothing be lost." In
those happy days stoves for cooking and warming
68 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
rooms, were not known. The commodious and spa
cious lire places, would, without difficulty, take in a
four foot back-log, with small wood suitable for filling.
Then wives and daughters had rosy cheeks, buoyant
spirits and blessed health ! Home-spun dresses, early
rising, industry, prudence, honesty, with the spinning
wheel, was the order of those humble seasons. Now,
alas, the change ! These useful and invaluable neces
saries are exchanged for the novel, the piano, the waltz,
and polka, with every vanity and vexation of spirit,
that a wicked, witty genius could invent or conceive of
to make humanity burdensome.
In the summer of 1775 my father put me to live
with Jonathan Tuthill, whose wife was Mehitable, my
mother s sister. They had been married about two
years, and were the joyful parents of a fine little girl
over a year old. General Wooster at this time with
his regiment, was stationed at Oysterponds Point.
Some of his soldiers were quartered in my uncle Tuthill s
barn, and sick with dysentery. My aunt s daughter
caught the disease and died. The mother was truly a
mourner. I am an evidence that this afflicting dispen
sation of divine Providence, was not effaced from this
mother s affectionate heart for many, many years.
" None but a mother can tell a mother s love."
The child s name was Abigail.
We well remember seeing General Wooster, on par
ade, and at other times when riding out with his staff.
To me and my playmates, he was quite a curiosity.
His age being near seventy years, with a venerable,
dignified appearance, and curled, powdered wig, gave
lively sensations to our juvenile sensibilities. These
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 69
trainings and reviews were almost daily, and the rendez
vous in a plain lot south of the road, before Mr. John
King s door, now David A. Tuthill s. Some few years af
ter this, General Wooster was wounded at Danbury, and
died soon of said wound. In 1854, seventy-nine years af
ter this, a handsome monument was raised to his memory.
In the summer of 1784, I lived at Stonington, witli
Deacon Nathan Fellows. He was an honest man, and
an ornament to his profession as a Christian. I stayed
with him about two months, when, becoming home
sick, my father unwillingly permitted me to return
home. In the winter of 1785, I was inoculated for
the small pox, with my friend, Noah. Tuthill. Both of
us had it very hard. April, 1786, I went to live with
a Mr. Jehiel Wheton, at what was then called Ster
ling now in the suburbs of Greenport. Mr.
"Wheton s family consisted of himself, wife and two
daughters. Mrs. Wheton was greatly possessed of
those graces which render the wife and mother the
glory and happiness of her household. Mr. Win-ton
was a peaceable, industrious man. They had lost a son
with the small pox a short time before. I was with
this pleasant family one year.
May, 1787, I, with my father, visited my grandfather,
Samuel Griffin, at Branclford, Connecticut. While on
this visit, we stopped at Guilford, where I saw, for the
first and only time in my life, Jasper Griffin, son of
Robert, my grandfather s brother. My two youngest
aunts, Betsy and Polly, were now married and living
at Guilford, each having a child the first a son, Bela ;
the last a daughter, Sally.
In August, 1775, a most distressing sickness JMV
70 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
vailed. It commenced while Wooster s soldiers were
stationed here. Such mortality by dysentery had never
before been known. One entire family of eight per
sons all died with the disorder, excepting one. Two
were buried in one grave.* It was assuredly a mourn
ful time, as almost every house felt the effects of the
raging pestilence. The same season there was scarce
the semblance of rain from the first of June to the
middle or last of August say nine or ten weeks. That
drouth is still fresh in my memory, although it is
seventy-five years ago. Those calamities, death, sick
ness and the want of rain, have left on my memory an
impression not to be effaced.
On the 28th of March, 1788, 1 set off with Samuel
Brown, one of my juvenile companions, a neighbor of
my age, to seek a livelihood in the North Eiver coun
try. We took passage on board of a sloop for New
York ; after a pleasant sail of two days, we arrived safe.
While in the city, we put up with my friend, Doctor
Thomas Yail. From Mr. Yail and his pleasant wife I
received much kindness. President Washington was
then living in New York, in the Franklin House, cor
ner of Pearl and Cherry streets, which was but a few
doors from Mr. Yail s, in. Pearl street. At that time, a
short walk would carry you out of town.
After stopping with Mr. Yail about two days, I went
on board of a half-rigged sloop, bound for New Marl-
borough, which lies 011 the North River, about ten
miles above Newburgh. We reached Tarrytown that
afternoon. At this place, about eight years before, the
* This family was Henry Youngs and wife, who both died, and five
children. The one that survived was a son, viz : Francis Youngs.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 71
accomplished but unfortunate Andre was taken, whose
affecting, tender and sorrowful history is read with
much interest by disappointed lovers and accomplished
soldiers.
Here the vessel was to stop for the night. To amuse
myself and see new things, I went ashore, where I met
a young man who said his business was to tend a flour
water-mill, which stood at the landing. If it would
suit my mind, he should be pleased with having my
company for the night in the mill, as there it was he
took his lodgings, with his gun well loaded by his bed
side, to keep away thieves. I accepted his offer, know
ing that there was not any softer bed on board than the
soft side of a board or plank. At the same time, I was
wicked enough to say to myself, " Who knows but this
young stranger may prove to you to be a ravenous
wolf in sheep s clothing?" However, I rested pretty
well on the mill floor, with a rough blanket wrapped
around me.
On the second of April, 1Y88, our vessel was safely
moored alongside of a small dock, at what was called
Newpaltz, about two or three miles above the small
village of New Marlborough. The owners of the ves
sel were brothers, very peaceable men, living two miles
from said dock, with their families. Said they had a
brother, a business man, who carried on the tanning,
currying and shoemaking trades. He would, no doubt,
employ me to assist him.
Drenched with rain, and traveling over a rough,
rocky road, I arrived at the house of John Calvery,
Sr. Was introduced to John Calvery, Jr. I was now
very wet and much disheartened. A large, overgrown
72 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
family of unpolished Dutchmen constituted the in
mates of Mr. Calvery s house. No prepossessing smile
met me on entering this family. Perhaps some allow
ance ought to be made, as I had just come from the
render, kind, affectionate, nursing care of one of the
most invaluable of mothers. It was now I felt to real
ize the insupportable weight of a separation from the
greatest blessing below the skies a mother " sweet
est, name on earth."
John Calvery, Jr., brother to the two men I came
with, hired me for six months. My business was to be
in the tanyard, on the farm, and in the shoe shop, as I
had some superficial knowledge of the craft, but not
sufficient to come near the name of an adept at that
manufacture.
Samuel Brown, with whom I had left home, staid in
Mew York to be inoculated for the small pox. Of
course, I was now alone with a people who had never
known me or my family. This, at the time, was quite
a secluded place, surrounded with small mountains and
hills, at best a rugged, rocky, sombre region. It was
by its few inhabitants called Lattin Town, from a num
ber of the families residing there of that name. The
Calverys father was yet living at the age of fourscore.
This old gentleman had been so attached to the cause
of Mother Britain, and her failure to subdue us, that
his reason, in consequence, appeared to be affected. A
day or two after I had commenced with his son, while
at dinner, the old gentleman very cheerfully asked me
of my home, and how the people in my quarter stood
affected by the late war. Not having any knowledge
of the old man s passions and imbecility of mind, I
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 73
earnestly answered that we Long Islanders were true
blue in the cause of American liberty. I had hardly
got to the word liberty, when, with eyes wildly flash
ing fire, and looks of indignation, he arose trembling
from the table, and bellowed forth at the top of his
lungs " You young, ignorant, beardless rascal ; I
would have you to know that every American who has
been killed while fighting against the King of England,
who is the Lord s anointed, has gone to hdl /"
At this horrid address and manner of delivery, I was
almost petrified, and, as soon as I could, left the room.
The son followed, kindly admonished me to be more
guarded in future, and said he was afraid it would have
been worse, as his father, when opposed, would almost
become a maniac. I promised a strict amendment, and
surely, I had good reason to attend to it. In fact, this
large family were rabid royalists. I needed a friend
and counsellor.
I passed six months in this retired region, and never
saw but one man, woman or child that I had ever seen
or heard of before, and that was General James Clin
ton, who passed the house one day, on horseback.
My lodging was generally in the tan, or shoe shop,
up chamber, on a blanket spread on the floor, which,
perhaps, had not known a scrub broom since the car
penter left it twenty years before. As it was early in
April when I began my six months, the term engaged
for was up in October. After settling with Mr. Cal-
very, I left immediately for Long Island. On my ar
rival in New York, I called on my friends, Vail and
wife, who gave me a cordial welcome. I staid one day
7
74 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
in town, and then took passage for Oysterponds, where
I arrived in twenty-four hours from New York. The
joy at meeting and embracing my anxious parents,
I acknowledge myself incompetent to describe.
On March 29, 1789, 1 left my home the second time
for the North. River country. My companion this
time was Gamaliel, a son of Major Barnabas Tu thill,
who was sometime an officer of that rank in the service
of his country. This young man, about seventeen years
old, left with me on the morning of the date above
stated (it being Tuesday) for New York, on foot. Our
packs, containing our scanty wardrobes, were not very
weighty, but my sainted mother had not been sparing
of filling our knapsacks with cakes, dried beef and
.cheese, and, with prayers and tears, besought Jacob s
God to overrule the perilous journey, for our eternal
good. It was certainly a perilous journey for us two
inexperienced boys to start, in such a way, with not
much over two dollars in our united pockets.
In passing through Rocky Point, now East Marion,
my sensations were such as a Petrach might be excused
for attempting to describe or portray in his melting
strains
" We passed on ;
My heart no more."
"Well, after a singular walk of three days, on one of
which we came near being taken up as runaways, we
arrived in New York, pretty well worn out. By our
hospitable friend, Thomas Yail, we were pleasantly en
tertained betwixt two and three days. On the third of
April, we took passage on board of a Fishkill sloop,
and, after a passage of two days, landed at Fishkill.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 75
We crossed to ISTewburgh, from which place we travel
ed to Oxford, a distance of seventeen miles. We stop
ped the night, much fatigued, with John McDowell,
Esq. With this gentleman, Gamaliel s brother, Samuel
Tuthill, lived. He was now at home, while I was left a
wandering stranger, not knowing what course to take-
But Sterne observes " God tempers the wind to the
shorn lamb."
On the morning of the sixth of April I arose. It
was a beautiful, clear morn ; but, alas ! what a contrast
was my beclouded and agitated mind. After taking
breakfast, I started, in company with a man from Long
Island, as he said, for a place near what was called the
Drowned Lands, which was about seventeen miles from
Oxford, and ten or twelve miles from Goshen village.
We arrived at our destined place about 12, M. I stop
ped with a Mr. -Elijah Wells. I had formerly known
this man at Cutchogue, on Long Island, which was his
native place. He had now moved into this part of the
country and bought a farm, on which he proposed to
spend the residue of his days. He was a man very re
spectable in all his intercourse with his fellow men ; a
son of the late Rev. Timothy Wells, in Acquebogue, in
1772.
While at Mr. Wells , which was one day, I spent an
hour or two with his brother Richard, who, with Elijah,
moved into this section as his future home. After re
ceiving their hospitalities, I again set off to find the re
sidence of my friend, Samuel Brown, with whom I left
Long Island in March, 1788. On inquiry, was inform
ed that there was such a young man as described living
within a couple of miles west of Goshen, eight miles from
76 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
where I was. After walking about two or three miles,
it set in raining which soon drenched me to the skin.
I trudged on amid the pelting rain and wet, and ex
hausted in body and mind I found myself at the house
of Benjamin Moore, where I found my friend Samuel.
I think I must have traveled, since leaving Well s, ten
miles. Moore was a cooper ; Samuel was trying to
learn the trade. His location looked forbidding ; the
house looked anything but comfortable ; shingles and
clapboards were missing ; neatness had gone abroad.
He appeared to be a good disposed man ; showed a
countenance shaded with disappointment and gloom.
One would say from close observation, his domestic com
forts were few. We can but commiserate those unfor
tunates, who are destined to a state of hopeless wretch
edness. Samuel was glad to see me, as I was him. I
stopped with him the night. He said his engagement
was for one year with Mr. Moore, in which time he
was to learn the trade. We lodged together in an
unfinished chamber, where the stars, in a clear night,
could meet an astronomer s gaze.
The next day Samuel, with Mr. Moore s brother Jon
athan, accompanied me to the village of Goshen. We
stopped a while at Timothy Dunning s inn, where I
parted with Samuel. He said his mind was to go to
Long Island in a few weeks, when I could write by him
to my parents and others. 2s"ow, in a gloomy, disheart
ened mood, dirty, weary, and almost moneyless, I plod
ded on about two miles, not knowing how and where I
should spend the night, which was, from the looks of
the sun, close upon me. Young, an inexperienced lone
stranger amongst strangers, a cloud of obstacles seemed
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 77
about to impede my way. Just at this crisis I met an
elderly man with a Quaker coat and hair cap who
pleasantly accosted me thus : " Friend, where art thou
from, and where bound, as thou appearest to be unac
quainted in this place ?" As I was pleased with being
thus noticed, I readily answered "I am from Long
Island ; my name is Griffin." "What !" says he with much
animation,." a son of my sister, Deziah Griffin ?" I said
"Yes," which appeared to give him much joy. This hos
pitable man was a Mr. Joshua Brown, who had visited
my father s house some few years before, and was an
old resident in this region. "We were near his house,
to which he gave me a cordial invitation. I accepted
and was well entertained by him, his wife, and son.
He was truly a gentleman farmer and a very religious
man ; his wife a benevolent woman, but she was so strong
in Presbyterianism that their latter days were not so
pleasant together. Some years before his death, Mr.
Brown appeared to lose his reason. Through a long life,
when himself, he was one of the excellent of the earth.
He died about 1795, betwixt seventy and eighty years
of age, and she some few years after, when eighty odd
years old.
In the midst of this agreeable entertainment, the
thought of what I should do on the ensuing morning
to procure a resting place and a home, was a wretched
drawback on all the good I was now partaking of.
In the morning, after partaking of a good breakfast,
well relished, and, after thanking this good man and
his wife for their civilities, took my departure, and
shaped my course towards what was called Little Bri-
78 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
tain, where a Col. Smith then owned a large flouring
mill ; saw mill, &c., A Mr. Dill was at this place
doing quite a business in manufacturing boots, shoes,
tanning, and currying. A day or two before this,
I had been informed that I might get employment at
Mr. Dill s.
After walking about eight miles the mills and shops
appeared in view. I stopped hesitated looked back
thought of home my mother ! What was I going to
introduce myself to do ? As tanner, shoemaker, or
miller? In fact, I began to believe I was not compe
tent for any of those arts to satisfy an employer. I was
in an awful dilemma ; a prey to such distressing sensa
tions that I sought relief in weeping. I retired to a
secluded wood. Weakness, be it so it was mine.
Thus doubting, hesitating, resolving, re-resolving, I
turned short about and retraced the unpleasant road,
rendered dismal by being recently from a frozen condi
tion flooded with rain. To say the least, the traveling
was intolerable.
When I had passed Mr. Brown s I had walked about
seventeen miles. Not feeling it proper to stop there, I
was for some time in doubts what course to take.
"While my invention was on the rack, a thought struck
me that Mr. Constant Terry, formerly of Oysterponds,
a respectable young man, had removed three or four
years before to the neighborhood of Goshen. I had
known him as boys generally know young men, their
seniors. I well remember him, as a rather more pol
ished, good-hearted young man, than many of his mates.
I immediately determined to find out his abode. In
walking about a mile I met a boy, of whom I enquired,
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 79
and was informed that I was within a mile of Mr.
Terry s house.
Night was now drawing nigh ; 1 was weary and
hungry ; had taken no refreshments since morning ; I
was soon at the door ; had some doubts about a pleasant
reception ; his wife I had never seen ; I made quite a
halt, yet nothing appeared forbidding ; I knocked ; a
mild female voice bid me walk in ; I did so, and was
politely received ; it was Mrs. Terry ; I told her I was
from Long Island ; she greeted me with a cordial wel
come. From the manner and expressions of these per
sons, I soon began to persuade myself that I had found
the very place that Providence had marked out for me,
and that my mother s cares for her son were always
accompanied with a mother s prayers.
He soon introduced me into agreeable and respecta
ble society. Requested, yea, urged me too, at all times,
while stopping in this part of the country, to make and
consider his house my home and himself and wife my
confidential friends. This I did, and ever after found
it fulfilled, in each particular, to the letter. This glory
of her sex, whose name was Sibil, died about the 10th
of July, 1795, a little over six years after these favors
conferred on me. She died a few hours after giving
birth to a daughter, who, while the mothor was dying,
she named Sibil, who in the course of years married in
TsTew York, and thirty-seven years after the mother s
death died with the cholera in that city.
Constant Terry after living a widower some years,
took a second wife, with whom he lived until his death
in 1822.
At this time his residence was Bloomingburgh, which
80 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
is about twenty-five miles from Newburgh. I proved
Mm to be a kind, generous friend. Accommodating to
his own inconvenience. Such was my friend and his
invaluable wife Sibil. She was the daughter of Mr.
Daniel Case, a respectable farmer near Goshen, Orange
county, ISTew York. He died about 1T90, seventy-two
years of age.
Constant was the son of Col. Thomas Terry, of Oys-
ponds. He, the colonel, died at Saybrook, Connecticut,
in 1776, aged fifty-six years. Col. Terry was the son
of Thomas Terry, Jr., who was son of Thomas Terry,
Sr., who was the first of that family that came to
Southold.
April 15th, 1789, Deacon Azariah Tuthill s house at
Rocky Point, was destroyed by fire, with nearly all the
furniture and wearing apparel ; a heavy loss to his wife
and daughters, who owned the entire property, which
was left them by their good father, the late Mr. Na
thaniel Tu thill. It was his widow who was now the
deacon s second wife. It is said the articles of the
Oysterpond Congregational church were destroyed by
that fire. The church was organized not far from 1700.
August, 1789, I commenced boarding with Captain
Joshua Brown.
I continued with Capt. Brown until 1st January,
1790. In this family, which consisted of a colored man
and his wife, old Mr. Brown and his wife, and Captain
Joshua.
On the 1st of January, 1790, I went into the family
of the widow Tusten. Her household consisted of two
sons and two daughters. The sons were James and
Thomas.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 81
Mrs. Tusten was yet a mourner for her husband, Col.
Benjamin Tusten, who was killed at the battle of Mini-
sink, in 1781, when the Indians under Brandt gained the
day, killing a large number of the inhabitants of Goshen,
giving no quarters. The sword and the tomahawk was
the fate of all who were taken, except one. A number
of those who met this untimely fate were of the most
respectable families in Goshen. Capt. John Wood
was the one whose life was saved, and this he supposed,
from what he observed, was a miracle. He returned
home two or three years after that awful day.
I never knew a more sincere mourner than Mrs.
Tusten. Her husband had now been dead eight years,
and seldom a day passed, but with the tenderest emo
tions of sensibility, she would weep as one that knew
the worth of the friend she had lost.
My time through this winter in this very agreeable
and interesting family, was taken up in studying ma
thematics and going over my arithmetic, with a design
to take a country school the ensuing spring. Whether
I had ever been fitted for such a station or not, I con
ceived it at this time my duty to review and increase
my knowledge before commencing the important task
of teaching the " young idea how to shoot."
I left this affectionate woman and her friendly chil
dren in April, 1790, and commenced as school teacher
near Minisink, about nine miles from Goshen, then a
village. The men there of most note at the time were
Messrs. John Hallock, Joshua Davis, James Jackson,
and John Finton. My school continued until the spring
of 1791. In the April of that year I visited my beloved
parents, after being away from them more than two
82 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
years. To me and to them the interview was reciprocal.
And again I was permitted to meet her whose impres
sion on my heart was not to be effaced but by the icy
hand of death.
" No after friendship e er can raise
The endearments of our early days."
About the time I resided in Mrs. Tusten s family,
Samuel Watkins, a man of wealth and deserved respec
tability, made honorable proposals, of marriage to Mrs.
Tusten. She declined, observing she viewed Mr. "Wat-
kins as inheriting every manly virtue and goodness re
quisite to make the marriage state pleasant and agreea
ble, and should she be disposed to change her then pre
sent lonely situation, no man would better meet her
choice. But so it was. Her heart was in the grave of
her departed husband, and for the last eight years she
could not allow the thought of ever filling any situation
while living but that of being his widow. Thus did
she live, encountering many of those severe trials which
Dr. "Watts justly says is too often realized by those who
sadly experience the melancholy and direful state of
widowhood. This amiable, noble-hearted woman died
in the year 1808, aged about sixty-one years. Her
eldest daughter, Sally, died 1814, a little over thirty
years old. We do not now recollect the other daugh
ter s name.
My friend, Thomas Tusten, died in August, 1796,
aged about twenty-three years. He had always shown
towards me an unshaken friendship from my first ac
quaintance with him. It has always formed a part of
my reflections to cherish the memory of so agreeable
and disinterested a juvenile friend. This stroke added
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 83
another link to the chain of his mother s sorrows ; but
she was a Christian ! James, the elder brother, lived
to about the year 1836, when, in New York, by some
mistep, while on the dock in the evening, he fell in and
was drowned. His body was recovered and interred
at Goshen ; at the time, he was about sixty-six years of
age. In the war of 1812, he held the commission of
Major.
I have noticed my visit to my friends on Long Island,
after an absence of more than two years. In May of
this year, I returned to Orange County, and engaged a
school in the eastern part of Blooming Grove. In this
district I taught until 1794, in the autumn of which
year, I removed to the east division of Goshen.
While a teacher in Orange County, I was so fortunate
as to always procure the favorable consideration of my
scholars, their parents and guardians. I was, I believe,
sincere in honorable endeavors to point out and urge
them to walk in the road w r hich leads to usefulness and
happiness. Many of them, I am happy to believe,
lived to realize their attention to my precepts, and pro
fited by lessons dictated by love and duty. My em
ployers are now all " gone to that bourne whence no
traveler returns." While a stranger in their employ, I
was treated with the kindest civilities and the most af
fectionate good will. Asael Coleman, Joshua Curtis,
Abner Coleman, the elder Hi chard Goldsmith, Benja
min Brewster, Samuel Moffat, William Hudson, his
venerable father, Anselm Hclin, John Benjamin, Caleb
Coleman, Jonathan Brooks, and others, are all names
engraven on the tablets of my memory. Their inter
esting, motherly wives, too, were nurses in time of
84 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
every need. "Who can forget such invaluable expres
sions of good will, bestowed on him whose pride it
ought to be to cherish the memory of such virtues,
such charity, and such benevolence ?
Jasper Griffin came to Southold about 16T5, from
"Wales, England; from what town or county, I know
not. He was born in the year 1648, which would make
him about twenty-five years of age on his arrival here.
In the course of a year or two, he purchased a small
farm at the landing at Southold, within thirty rods of
those beautiful banks which border that pleasant har
bor. He was commissioned as major of the militia, and
charged with the care of two pieces of cannon. They
were mounted on those banks, near his residence.
These he fired on public days, such as their Majesty s
birthdays, &c., William and Mary, and, perhaps, Ann,
after the demise of her sister and lord. Jasper s wife
was named Hannah. It is supposed he married her in
this country. Her gravestone says Manchester, we be
lieve, in Massachusetts or New Hampshire. His
family was large by this excellent woman. Four of
their names have come down to us, viz : Jasper, Ro
bert, John and Edward. These were his only sons;
the other children were daughters.
It has been said Jasper was accompanied to this
country by a brother of his, who settled at or near Eye,
in "Westchester County, this State. A few years since,
there were there some of the name. I have seen a let
ter from a member of his family, dated 1719, which
was full of the tenderest interest for his well-doing.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 85
It spoke of his having two near connections, I think
brothers, but am not certain, as it is more than sixty
years since I read it. These brothers were then cap
tains of ships. He was dead before the letter reached
this country, having died in April, 1718. His wife
died April, 1699, aged forty-six years. Jasper was in
the seventieth year of his age at his death. The letter
mentioned above made no notice of any brothers or
connections in this part of the world at that time.
The few natives which were yet remaining in and
near these parts became much attached to Jasper Grif
fin, and often took occasion to show it in their natural
but honest mode. One, an ingenious, true friend to
Jasper, curiously wrought out a wood porringer, and,
with great good will, presented it to his friend, the
white man. Jasper took it with satisfaction. Soon af
ter this token of esteem from this son of the forest, he
sent the curiosity to his friends in Europe. In due time
it was sent back, with a plate of silver neatly lining
the handle, on which was engraved the Griffin s coat-
of-arms. This relic of bygone days is now in the hands
of one of the descendants of the fifth or sixth gener
ation, in New York. The Prince of Wales, who w r as
beheaded in the reign of King John, of England, was
named Griffin. It is said the Griffins of this family
are his descendants. It may or may not be so.
Jasper, the first son mentioned above, settled in
Lyme, Connecticut, where he purchased a tract of land.
I have understood that at the time of his death his
years numbered more than ninety! His sons were
Jasper, 3d, Lemuel, Joseph, and Nathan. These de-
8
86 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
scendants of Jasper, Jr., in Connecticut and other
parts of the country, are numerous, and we believe
honorable to their progenitor. Lemuel, the second son,
was grandfather to Dr. Edward D. Griffin, a celebrated
preacher of the Presbyterian order, and for some time
President of Williams College, Massachusetts, born in
1770 and died in 1837. His brother George, now an
aged man, has stood deservedly conspicuous as a law
yer. Jasper Griffin, 3d, grandson to the first Jasper,
died at Lyme in 1783, in his eightieth year. Jasper
Griffin, 4th, died in his eighty-ninth year.
The first Jasper, of Lyme, had a grandson, Abner,
who visited my father at Oysterponds, in 1787, with
his daughter Deborah, at the time an accomplished
woman. Abner who was a man of much humor, ob
served my father s noticing Deborah as pretty, said,
" Cousin James, I have a girl at home, who, while at
school the other day, was called up by the teacher to
receive correction for some trifling fault. The master
raised his whip; she looked him in the face with a
smile ; the whip fell to the floor !"
Abner Griffin died in 1788 or 1789 at Lyme, afore
said, aged fifty years.
Captain John Griffin, of Lyme, died in 1852, in his
eighty-third or eighty-fourth year. He was Jasper
Griffin s, Jr., grandson. He had formerly commanded
some noble sea vessels, and made one or two voyages
to "Wales. One of his daughters, now Mrs. Starr, is
living at Sag Harbor. She is an intelligent and amia
ble woman.
1 never had the happiness of an interview with Capt.
Griffin, although I have received several kind letters
GEIFFIN S JOURNAL. 87
from him, in one of which was a handsome postscript,
signed Ellen Griffin, his affectionate daughter, I presume.
John, the second son of the first Jasper, when of age,
removed to Riverhead, about twenty miles west of the
residence of his father. Here he commenced house
keeping with a young wife, with whom he lived about
twelve years. His death was in consequence of falling
through the ice, from which perilous situation he was
rescued, but so exhausted that he died. His death was
in 1741, and we should suppose him not forty years of
age. We believe his family consisted of several chil
dren, but we know of but one, a son, whose name was
John, born in 1710. This John Griffin, Jr., had two
wives ; that is a second one after the death of the first.
His first wife was Sarah Paine, by whom he had thir
teen children. Their names were, viz. :
1st, Prudence, born 1735.
2d. John, " 1737.
3d. Sarah, " 1739.
4th. Anna, " 1741.
5th. Sarah, " 1744.
6th. James, " 1746.
7th. Mehitable, " 1748.
8th. Nathaniel, " 1750.
9th. Thankful, 1752.
10th. Stephen, " 1754.
llth. Joseph, 1756.
12th. Mary, " 1758.
13th. Jasper, 1760.
By his second wife he had
1st. William, born 1770.
2d. Barlett, " 1773.
3d. David, " 1775.
4th. Anna, " 1777.
Seventeen children in all.
88 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
John Griffin, Jr. and Samuel Griffin were cousins.
The first was John Griffin s, Sr. son, the second Robert
Griffin s son. These cousins had their first and second
wives. Each "by his first wife had thirteen children
and each by his second wife four children ; viz. : seven
teen children in each family. Deacon Bartlet Griffin,
who died in September, 1855, in his eighty-third year,
was the last one of John s children, and Jared Griffin,
who died in May, 1844, in his eighty-third year was
the last of Samuel Griffin s children. John Griffin, Jr.
and Samuel Griffin were each born in the year 1710 ;
the first died in 1777, the other in 1789.
Edward, third son of Jasper Griffin, bought of his
brother Jasper who had moved/to Lyme, all the real
estate which he, Jasper, owned at Southold. This deed
of sale was executed June 1st, 1718, near two months
after Edward s father s death. Where Edward settled
for life, what family he had, how long he lived, we are
unable to say. As he sold his lands at Southold the same
year to his brother Robert, we infer that he removed
to some other part of this State or to Connecticut.
Robert, fourth son of Jasper, settled down on his
father s estate and homestead, on the pleasant banks of
the Peconic Bay at Southold Harbor. His wife, we
believe, was a Connecticut woman, named Susannah.
His sons were Samuel, "William, Jasper, John, and
Robert. I do not know them in course, but believe
Robert the youngest. The first Robert, noticed above,
is said to have been a man of the most agreeable com
pany, conversation, greatly beloved. He died in 1729,
aged forty-four years.
William, we think, was the first son of Robert Grif-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 89
fin. He, when of age, emigrated to New Jersey, where
for some years his profession was a Congregational
minister. When advanced in years, we are informed,
he went to Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania, where he died,
closing a long, well-spent, and useful life. At what
year this event took place, or the number of his house
hold, we are not informed.
John, another son of Robert, settled down not far
from Saybrook, Connecticut. John had two sons, Ab-
ner and John. This last was of much consideration
amongst the Griffins on Long Island and elsewhere ;
was a man of kind and tender heart; a good soldier of
the Revolution, for which service he drew a pension.
When an old infirm man, in or near 1833, he visited
Southold ; was at my house a few days. Not finding
scarcely one of his associates and companiris with whom
he spent many pleasant, joyous days sixty years before,
his countenance became sad and gloomy.
After staying a short time at Southold and Rocky
Point, he returned to his home, Essex, Connecticut,
where his death took place some year or two after.
His brother Abner died some years before.
Jasper, another son of Robert, after running away
from his master, to whom he was apprenticed, several
times, being impressed in the British Navy, from
which he escaped as almost by a miracle ; swimming, as
he said, five miles. After many curious incidents in
his rambles, and a voyage or two to the West Indies,
still minus in purse, got himself a wife and settled
down in Old Guilford, Connecticut, After a few
years of marked success, he became a man of much
8*
90 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
wealth in houses, land, and money, It is said he bor
rowed a dollar to pay the clergyman for marrying him.
For many years before his death the rising generation
hardly knew him by any other name than " The Old
Commodore." . This appelation was conferred on him
by his swimming from Commodore Warren s ship,
when a runaway boy of eighteen or nineteen years.
About the year 1800 his death took place in Guilford,
where a marble slab covers his remains. His age
about eighty years.
He was twice married. By his first wife he had four
children, viz. : 1st. Jasper, master of a privateer in the
"War of the Revolution ; a man in daring and fortitude
inferior to no man. Second and third sons were Timo
thy and Mind well, and a daughter Elizabeth. By his
second wife he had three sons, viz. : Russel, Joel, and
Nathaniel. These two last were merchants. Joel died
in May 8th, 1826, a useful member of society, aged
sixty-four years. Nathaniel who was many years a
member of the Assembly and Senate of this State, and
a Judge of the County Court. By the community at
large, and his citizens in general, he was, through a long
series of years, considered a man of much public use
fulness.
He died suddenly, September 17th, 1845, aged sev
enty-eight years. Joel, the second son by his second
wife, also had a son Joel, who became a physician of
much respectability. He married a daughter of Judge
Thomas S. Strong, of Setauket, Long Island. By this
lady he had two children, after which he died, not
having attained thirty years of age.
Robert, I believe, was the youngest son of his fa-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 91
ther, Eobert Griffin, Sr. Robert, Jr., settled at North
Guilford, Connecticut. I am told his death took place
about 1790, at which time he was about seventy years
of age. His sons were Rossetter, "William and Kirk-
land. The two first settled near New Haven. Kirkland
was more roving ; made several voyages to sea ; he was
with Paul Jones in his masterly and bloody engage
ment in which he captured two English frigates. After
the War of the Revolution, he settled in Clinton
County, New York, where, much respected, he lived to
an advanced life. My brother, James Griffin, on a visit
some twenty years since to Clinton County, said some
of his time was pleastantly spent with Mr. Kirkland
Griffin, who rehearsed the perilous adventures while with
Jones, arid others, at sea, in the service of his country.
Samuel was another son of Robert, which makes the
number, as I suppose, of his sons. I am well aware I
have not set them down in course, not knowing which
was the oldest ; yet I should think Jasper the eldest,
and Robert, Jr., it was said, was the youngest son. The
daughters of Robert Griffin, Sr., if he had any, and I pre
sume he had I know not anything of their history.
Samuel was my grandfather, and born in 1710, being
only nineteen years old at the time of his father s death.
It appears, young as he was, he took charge of the
family, and soon came in possession of the homestead
estate. Took the guardianship of his brother Jasper,
whom he bound out to a trade ; but he proved to be
one of the most refractory of boys, as has been stated.
Samuel, at the age of about twenty-two, married Eliza
beth, the daughter of Nathan Landon, of Southold, by
92 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
whom he had thirteen children. Elizabeth was born
in June, 1710, and died in August, 1755.
Their names were, 1st Samuel, born July 20, 1733.
He died while captain of a merchant vessel, in the
West Indies, at Martinico, about the year 1762. He
left a wife, but not any children.
2d Seth, born October 12, 1734. He was for many
years captain of a number of fine vessels in the mer
chant service, to the West Indies and other foreign ports.
He died while on his passage to New York, April 9,
1788, aged fifty-four years.
3d Daniel, born May 12, 1736. At the early age
of twenty, he served in the French war of 1756. In
1775 and 1776, he was conspicuous as a captain in the
army under General Washington. He was a man of
courage and meritorious as an officer. His death took
place June 22, 1822, in his eighty-seventh year. He
lived with his wife (who was Martha Case) sixty-five
years. She was born in June, 1737, and died soon af
ter her husband, in the same year.
4th Lydia, born November 13, 1737, and died Oc
tober 1, 1754.
5th James, born October 14, 1739, and died Decem
ber 10, 1824, in his eighty-sixth year. He held a com
mission in the War of the Revolution, in which he
faithfully served near two years.
6th Experience, born 1741, and died about 1796.
She married Augustus Peck, of Southold, a man much
respected as a good-hearted ship master. With this
excellent husband, she lived in all the enjoyment of
domestic peace about twenty-five years. He died
somewhere near 1790.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 93
7th Peter, born September 2, 1742, and died on
board the old Jersey prison ship, at Brooklyn, about
1782. His sufferings on board this floating hell, as she
was rightly called, were sufficient to melt the most ob
durate heart. And yet this fabric and engine of refined
cruelty was sanctioned by a nation calling themselves
Christians ! It is sufficient to make cannibals blush.
8th David was born February 3. 1743, and died in
St. Johns, Antigua, August 11, 1763, in his twenty-first
year.
9th Moses, born September 6, 1755, and died in
Philadelphia about the year 1797. He stood high as a
ship captain in those times with commercial men.
10th Joshua, bom August 20, 1749, and died at
Cape May, September 15, 1771.
llth Aaron, born February 15, 1752, and died
1754.
12th Elizabeth, born February 17, 1755, and died
the widow of Solomon Stone, in 1838, in her eighty-
fourth year ; an excellent, kind woman.
13th An infant, living but a few days.
My grandfather married his second wife, Martha
Yail, on the 25th May, 1756, by whom he had four
children, viz : 1st. Mary, born April 20, 1758, in
Guilford, Connecticut. She died the widow of Medad
Stone, on the 4th day of February, 1794, in her seventy-
second year.
2d Parnol, born 1st September, 1759 died in 1764.
A very pious child, as it is said, and her expressions at
the death scene gave evidence of astonishing Gospel
faith.
3d Jared, born June 16th, 1762, and died May,
94 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
1844, wanting about twenty-eight days of eighty-two
years of age. He was for many years a Justice of the
Peace ; a truly honest man, and sound Christian.
4th Aaron, born June 10, 1764, and died February
14, 1842 ; making the number by the two wives seven
teen, the same number that his cousin, John Griffin, of
Riverhead, had by his two wives.
In the year 1554, there was a man by the name of
Griffin, who held the office of Attorney General in
London. While Lord Chief Justice Bromley presided
on the Bench, this attorney (Griffin) spoke with great en
ergy and surpassing eloquence in the cause of a gen
tleman by the name of Throckmorton, who had been
imprisoned on some action which he (Griffin) painted
in glowing colors to be unjust.
My father, James Griffin, when a small boy, by some
accident, fell and broke his leg. The wound was very
severe, and it was a very long time before it became
strong and sound. The soreness was such that several
small pieces of the thigh bone came out of the- wound,
which he showed to his friends many years after. In
consequence of this early casualty, his leg, which was
injured, became near two inches shorter, and was so
through life. But his health became so good, his
strength so firm, his activity and sprightliness so natu
ral and prominent, that the nicest observer could not
discern the least limp in his gait, w r hich was quick and
elastic.
When about sixteen years of age, he was apprenticed
to learn a trade at or near Southampton. With him,
at the same time, were two boys, of the same age.
This was 1T55. In 1760, they all became of age and
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 95
entered on the busy world to act for themselves. Af
ter this period, they each -lived more than seventy
years James Griffin, John Darrow and Paul Reeve.
The first died in his eighty-sixth year ; John Darrow, in
his ninety-first year ; and Paul Reeve, in his ninetieth
year. I notice this as what rarely happens three
boys, at the same employ, of the same age should live,
after they had attained the age of twenty-one years,
about seventy years after that period. Their united
ages were :
Years.
James Griffin 85
John Darrow - - 90
Paul Reeve - 89
Ages united. 264
Average age of each - 88
Paul Reeve was son of the Rev. Abner Reeve, a
preacher at Riverhead. Judge Tappen Reeve, of Con
necticut, a lawyer of high standing and a Judge, was
his brother.
My father, at the age of twenty-five, married Deziah,
the daughter of Jonathan and Lydia Terry, of Oyster-
ponds. She was at the time eighteen years of age.
Soon after his marriage he went one or two voyages a
whaling. After these voyages his employ was, on the
water, coast-wise. At the commencement of the War
of the Revolution, he immediately took side in the
cause of his injured country and liberty. He was no
ticed by his fellow soldiers for his coolness and cour
age at the battle on Long Island. His service in the
army continued about fifteen months, when the time of
96 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
his enlistment expired, which was while at Ticonde-
roga or Crown Point. After this service, he was not in
any actual United States employ during the remain
ing years of the war.
The people of South old and Oysterponds at this time,
very many of them, removed their families into Con
necticut, in order to avoid the British and Hessians,
who were taking possession of Long Island. This re
move was equally as fatal as it was to the fish which
jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. They left
their houses and farms to the mercy of the British.
But alas for their empty houses and fertile farms ! The
shrubbery, trees, and fences ! What a picture ! Dwell
ings with broken windows, hirigeless doors, and dilapi
dated walls !
The very idea is a sufficient caution for not attempt
ing to describe the trouble and damage experienced by
those many families, who leaped before they looked.
Those few who remained did far better.
This was in 1776. Early in the spring of 1777, my
father returned with his family to Long Island. Here
he spent the remainder of his days. While the war
lasted his days and nights were marked with much per
plexity and disquiet. Having served fifteen months in
the cause of his country, and now returned to live, if
possible, as neutral, with his wife and children in the
immediate neighborhood where a number of British
and Tory soldiers were quartered. Sometimes they
would appear favorable and tell him they would not
molest or give him trouble if he would peaceably mind
his business, which a part of the time was tending a
mill. At other times when threatened he would lodge
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 97
from home until they cooled down. Some Tory cha
racters with whom my father had been well acquainted
before the war, were quartered witli the British at Oys-
terpond Point, appeared to wish the arrest and deten
tion of my father, as a man unfit to remain so near the
camp at liberty. From such an aspect my harrased
parent kept as much out of the way as he could, with
out leaving the island altogether. Through the day he
kept a good lookout, and his nights were much from
home.
About the 1st of August, 1773, it being a severe
rain storm, wind IN". N. E., my father ventured in con
sequence of the storm, to lodge at home with his family,
satisfying himself that the storm of wind and rain would
secure him rest unmolested one night. It proved sadly
otherwise. About midnight the house was surrounded !
An enraged, armed file of soldiers demanded instant
admittance, or they would break in. They appeared
to be excited by drink, as their manners would much
more become savages than civilized men. They de
manded, with shameful oaths, the body of my father,
dead or alive. While in great commotion in searching
below stairs, and threatening what they would do with
the rebel after he was secured, my father, under great
excitement, was trying to effect his escape by getting a
chance to jump from a chamber wmdow\ This was a
perilous undertaking, as there was a guard of mounted
men stationed around the house ; but there was no time
to be lost. He flew to the north window which was
open ; there he saw a man with his sword drawn sitting
on his horse under the window ! Who can depict his
9
98 GEIFFIN S JOURNAL.
feelings at this moment, when these infuriated despera
does were now at the foot of the stairs about to mount
to the chamber, where he stood at the head of the stairs
at the window. At this awful moment the guard rode
round the corner of the house, we suppose to keep a
little more out of the wind and rain ; my father jumped
to the ground, a distance of near twenty feet ; as they
arrived at the chamber, he was at liberty, on terra-firma,
and no bones broke.
Amidst this storm he escaped, with nothing on him
but his shirt, yet freed from these myrmidoms, he was
grateful, though in the drenching rain. A Mrs. Jeru-
sha Corwin, assisting my mother at the time, was made
the instrument, through God s goodness, of preserving
my father.* Mrs. Corwin was a respectable widow ; her
manner of receiving and waiting upon those wretches
in human shape, was almost without a parallel. Per
fectly cool and collected, with a smile, she showed them
every room and closet below, previous to going up
stairs. Her utmost art was here exerted to give my
father time to escape through the window. Her being
there appears to be Providential, as no doubt his suffer
ings, if captured, would have been indescribable, if not
terminating in death. Mrs. Corwin died in 1788, aged
about 60 years.
Perhaps there was never a woman possessing greater
faith in the religion of Christ than my mother, Deziah
Griffin ; and her life was as pure as her faith was genu
ine. Many of my father s escapes from the British, to
* As they were mounting the stairs, Mrs. Corwin rubbed the candle
out, making them believe It was they who did it. Before they could light
it again his escape was effected. That circumstance, no doubt, saved him
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 99
appearance, were almost miraculous. But so it was,
my mother would observe, as Elisha did to his servant,
" They that be with us are more than they that be with
them."
After many surprising and hairbreadth escapes, he
succeeded in getting to Plumb Island. In the next
year 1779 the British troops left this place. I be
lieve they were never stationed here any length of time
after that year.
In the spring of 1780, my father moved with his
family to Southold, to the deserted mansion of the Hon.
Ezra Lhoinmedieu. This house stood within thirty
rods of the venerable tenement of my grandfather,
Samuel Griffin. As these worthy men,, with their fa
milies, continued in Connecticut, where they had fled
to avoid the British legions, by request, my father took
charge of their homesteads, which showed the sad ef
fects of being left to the mercy of enemies.
At Southold, lie remained until 1783, when he re
turned to Oysterponds.
In 1802, he built himself a house at Rocky Point,
near what is called the Darn. On the 14th November,
1814, aged sixty-eight years, my dear, affectionate and
pious mother left this vale of sorrows, pains and tears,
and, in the triumphs of the Christian s hope, entered
into that rest reserved for the people of God. May I
be pardoned in adding, a holier, Heavenly-minded,
kind-hearted wife, mother, daughter, sister, or neigh
bor, never lived to bless her fellow travelers to
eternity. To her husband, she could say :
" I have watched thy every look, thy wish to know
And only truly blest when thou wert so."
100 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
The following notice of her death, by "Wm. L. Hud
son, Esq., captain in the "United States Navy, appeared
in one of the New York papers : u Departed this life,
on the evening of the 14th November, at 10 minutes
past 8 o clock, in the triumphs of faith, Mrs. Deziah
Griffin, the virtuous, amiable wife of Mr. James Griffin,
of Oysterponds, aged sixty-eight years. This excellent
woman possessed, in an eminent degree, the sacred con
stancy of an inspired Ruth, the imperishable piety of a
beloved Hannah, with the sweet humility of the bless
ed and immortal Mary. With Deborah, she was with
us a mother in Israel. She will assuredly, by a goodly
number of her Christian friends and numerous acquain
tances, as well as those of her disconsolate family, long
be held in grateful remembrance for her unwearied
counsels, to close in with those Gospel truths which
fired her soul with such love, peace, and joy in the
Holy Ghost. With justice, it might be said of her, as
was said of the martyr Stephen : We behold her face
as the face of an angel. Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord ; for they rest from their labors, and
their works do follow them. "
After this severe calamity, my father lived ten years ;
but these last years of his life were marked with a visi
ble melancholy and loneliness. Much unlike his natu
ral buoyancy of spirits, and great flow of almost uni
versal humor, with which his easy, pleasant address
rendered him, through a long life, an interesting, agree
able associate, as well as an invaluable husband and
father.
On the morning of the 10th December, 1824, this ve
nerable parent, having been something unwell for two
GRIFFIN S JOURNA-L T01
or three days, yet not confined to his bed, sitting in his
chair conversing with my brother Warren, his head was
seen to fall on his bosom, and he expired without a
groan or pang, in his eighty-sixth year.
He was of middling height, with a very prepossess
ing appearance, and of a form and strength which few
of his size possessed. At a certain time, when near
fifty years of age, he carried on his back seven bushels
of good wheat up two pair of stairs. The late Adjutant
Daniel Tuthill assisted it on his shoulders, and was a
witness -to this feat of strength.
James Griffin s children were :
1st. James, born January 1, 1765.
2d. Augustus, born February 2, 1767.
3d. Deziah, born November, 1768.
4th. Elisha, born December 2, 1770.
5th. Lucinda, born March 31, 1773.
6th. Moses, born March 7, 1775.
7th. Parnol, born September 6, 1777.
8th. Peter Warren, born April 12, 1780.
9th. Samuel, born April, 1782.
10th. Lucretia, born April, 1784.
llth. Samuel Caddie, born January^, 1787 ; died
24th September, 1854.
12th. Austin, born April, 1789.
My mother s father, as before said, was Jonathan
Terry, born about the year 1713 or 14, and died sud
denly, while in good health, June, 1775, aged sixty-one
years. He was industrious and benevolent ; greatly
beloved in all the several relations of his useful life.
His father was Thomas Terry, who died while possessing
9*
102 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
the handsome estate now the property of Elisha
Mulford.
As this Thomas Terry s father died, not having made
any will, his eldest son, Thomas, brother to my grand
father Jonathan, came in possession of the entire pro
perty. Of course, Jonathan and his other brothers
two or three of them were cut off without a dollar.
So much for the laws of primogeniture. However, my
grandfather, by great industry and economy, with the
assistance of a prudent wife, accumulated a handsome
property, which is yet well improved, in the hands of
the third and fourth generations.
The Thomas Terry, grandfather to Jonathan, was
Thomas Terry, Jr., in 1698, as his father was then
living, probably fifty or more years of age at the time.
If so, this grandfather, Thomas, must have been the
first of the family, which came to this place about 1670,
and to Southold in 1660.
Rev. Elisha Gillet died at, or in the neighborhood of
Patch ogue, in May, 1820, aged eighty-seven years.
About the year 1790, or near that time, Mr. Gillet re
sided in Orient, lower neck, where he statedly preached
on the seventh day to a small congregation of strict
Sabbatharians, who, with himself, were strong in the
belief that Saturday was the only and true Sabbath.
There was about six or seven families of this sect.
These, he organized into a church, over which he
presided some two or three years, with favorable pros
pects ; but divisions arose, and ere six years had past,
his flock began to scatter, and he found himself incom-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 103
petent to the task of keeping them together. His
church, as a body, soon became extinct, and he, a truly
good man, lived to mourn over some of his stray flock.
After these days he deemed it his duty strictly to keep
two days as his Sabbath, viz : Saturday and Sunday.
His gifts were small, yet he well understood the Bible.
He preached the first sermon in the second new meet
ing house in Orient, on the 18th July, 1817, at the
time eighty-four years of age. He left two sons by his
second wife, an excellent woman, Zebulon and Gano.
This last one was some time a Judge of our County
Court a man of acknowledged abilities. They are
now both dead.
John King was one of our early settlers. He had a
son, Samuel, who must have been twenty-five years old
when his father, John, came to Oysterponds, being.born
in 1633 or 34. His, Samuel s son, who was John King
2d, was born near the date of 1695, and died about 1753
or 54. Ho was much known as Ensign King ; was
greatly respected for his wise councils, and unshaken
faith in the merits of his Saviour. He was considered
a substantial pillar in the Church.
The following fact, respecting his goodness of heart,
I had from his second son, the late Major Nathaniel
King. On a certain night, after being in bed some time,
he arose, and walked out into his yard. "While looking
around he observed his corn house door open. Suppos
ing his boys, by neglect, had not shut it, as was their
duty, he advanced to close it, but at that instant ob
served with much surprise, a near neighbor of his filling
104 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
a bag with corn. He was startled beyond measure, and
it was some time before lie could collect himself suffi
ciently to address his visitor in language proper on such
an occasion. However, ere he could do this to his mind,
the affrighted intruder, with a sigh, cried out " I am
an undone man forever." " I hope not so bad as that,"
replied the commiserate Mr. King ; " I suppose your fa
mily are in need of bread ; had you informed me that
was the case, I would willingly have assisted them ;
you have broken a prominent command, and done me
an injury, but in case you repent, and fully refrain from
this course forever, you have my hearty forgiveness."
To this the trembling man observed, with tears, u Through
God s assistance, I never will take from any one again
what is not my own." Mr. King then gave him his
hand. It is now about one hundred and fifteen years
since this transaction, and the man s name is not yet
revealed.
Dr. Thomas Ytiil was the oldest son of Thomas Vail.
Sr., who was the son of Jeremiah Tail 3d, who was the
son of Jeremiah Yale 2d, who was the son of Jeremiah
Yail 1st, who settled at Oysterpoiids in 1656, on what
is now known as the Point Farm, and now owned by
the sons of the late Capt. Jonathan F. Latham. Tho
mas Yail, Sr., about 1758, married Hannah, the daugh
ter of Kichard and Hannah Brown. Was a captain of
militia, in which station he was respected. Not far
from 1767 he removed with his family into the state ol
Vermont, near or in the town of Pomfort. At this
place Thomas, the eldest son, lived with his father until
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 105
1776, when he returned to Long Island to reside with
his grandmother, whose interest in his welfare was great.
Thomas, at the time he came to reside with his wid
owed grandmother in 1776, was sixteen years of age.
He had now returned to the land of his childhood an
accomplished, well-informed youth of sixteen. His ad
dress, manners, and language, soon procured for him
the most respectful consideration of all who knew how
to appreciate worth and talent in a promising youug
man.
At the age of about seventeen, he was employed to
teach the school. He was very successful in his first
performance as a school teacher. In 1781, he taught a
school at Southold. One day, while on his way to
Southold, w r hen just east of Ashamomack Beach, he
was taken prisoner by Captain Simcoe, of the British
army, who, after detaining him a short time, let him
off. This Simcoe was many years after a Governor of
Canada. Not far from 1780, he went a short voyage,
as a volunteer, in the American frigate Confederacy ;
was gone about three months. In 1783, he married
Bethia, the daughter of Major Barnabas Tuthill. In
1786, we find him keeping a flourishing school at Hunt-
ington. In 1787, 88 and 89, superintending a large
school in Pearl street, in New York. There he was
much respected for his literary acquirements and com
munications. As a member of the Manumission So
ciety, he was honorable and of respectable standing,
and as a member of Dr. John Rogers Church. In
1792, he removed his family to Oysterponds, from
which he had been absent four years. He now com
menced keeping a store of dry goods and groceries with
106 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
seeming success for about two years, in which time, by
a contract with the people in the district, lie built them
a handsome school house. This was about 1793. He
was the first to open a school in said house, for one
quarter. In 1791, a complete failure overtook him ;
gave up all business. Mortified at his reverses of for
tune, which imprudence had brought on him, in haste
he left the country, and moved into the State of Ver
mont with his family and effects. Here he entered on
a new mode of providing for his family. Studied phy
sic, and, as a man of brilliant abilities, he soon was re
ceived into the society as competent to practice, which
he did with success. In the spring of 1816, after an
absence of twenty-two years, he came back to Oyster-
ponds. He came alone, greatly changed in personal
appearance ; his mind vigorous and bright, but the
body a relic of what was florid and beautiful. He had
left his family : for what cause, we know r not, as there
never was anything but unity betwixt him and his
wife. He took the school in Orient, which, with the
practice of physic, he continued to attend until Febru
ary, 1820, when a stroke of paralysis rendered him un
fit for further usefulness. With his mind calm, com
posed, and, to appearance, resigned to his situation, he
lingered until March, when death put a period to his
eventful and chequered life. Since his death, we have
been satisfactorily informed that his domestic life while
with his family, from 1783 to 1816, a term of thirty-
three years, was united and peaceable. I have often
heard him observe that it showed great weakness, as
well as confirmed cowardice, to quarrel with a wife.
In his youth, he was assuredly one of th,e most pro-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 107
raising of young men ; a complete figure, and as pre
possessing as genteel. Had his prudence been as great,
and in every respect equal, to his acquirements in the
knowledge of men and things, Thomas Tail would have
been held in high and deserved consideration by all
who know how to estimate talent, united with true and
respectable address.
A short time previous to his death, he said to me
that, at the age of about eighteen, he formed an ac-
quaintace with Miss Frances Webb, of Southold, an in
teresting girl, and well calculated to make the married
O O "
state peaceful and happy. Their attachment was re
ciprocal ; but, alas ! the mutability of all earthly pro
ductions. Circumstances, united with unavoidable
strange events prevented a union of bodies whose souls,
congenial, were bound by that sacred chord which no
thing can sever but death. A short time before his
death, he stole a visit to the grave which contained the
remains of this, his early and first love. But he has
gone, and not a stone tells where lie lies.
" The well-sung woes shall soothe my pensive ghost ;
He best can paint them who has felt them most "
The following elegy, was written by him on the sud
den death of his interesting and beautiful daughter
Harriet, aged two and a half years. Her death was, as
it was thought, occasioned by eating the blossoms of
Indian weed. See that beautiful sentence, "!N"o poison
there to taint life s purple blood," &c.
In Sharon s grove the earliest shruhs arise,
And smiling beauty meets our raptured eyes
Spring s earliest blossoms opening to the sight,
Fill every sense with pleasure and delight.
108 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Arabia s groves, and Sharon s spicy fields,
Fragrance, and song in rich abundance yields ;
Young rosy morning here perfumes her breath,
Beauty, perfumes, and song, rise from the teeming earth
From earth they sprang, to earth they must return
Their early birth but speeds them to their urn.
Such is frail man ! The nursling of an hour
Spreads his young wings to catch an April shower
Health s rosy charms still brightning in his face,
Where budding thoughts slide with peculiar grace.
Morn is more fair with Philomela s song,
In sweetest strains the feathered tribes among
Such were the notes my charming Harriet sung.
Beauty and song in all her form appear,
Her Maker formed her with peculiar care ;
Her mein angelic Heaven in her eye ;
Her mind a diamond from yon spangled sky,
A moment glittering to my ravished view,
To Heaven returned, and bade this earth adieu !
Some beckoning angel in the World of Day,
Pointed the weed, and bid her haste away,
And leave her poisoned dust to mix with kindred clay.
Fancy stood by, and marked her serial flight
Through liquid regions of supernal light.
I viewed her path through yon imperial skies,
And the big tears stood trembling in my eyes,
While through ten million stars I saw her spirit rise
Pleasure and pain my laboring bosom tore,
Till she arrived on Canaan s blissful shore.
Urania pointed to a blooming plain,
Edged by the shore of Heaven s eternal main,
Where a young throng of cherubs caught my sight,
Dress d in the garbs of Heaven s unclouded light !
Just pass d the tree which monthly fruitage yields
Twelve sorts of fruits its leaves the nations heals.
With sportive step, they gaily pass along,
In converse sweet when, amidst the etherial throng,
My angel Harriet caught my raptured view !
0, how changed ! how glorious ! and how new !
Celestial spirit now ! health, rosy bloom
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 109
Decked her ethereal soul like splendid noon
As summer s evening, mild as morning skies,
Streaked with calm splendor Auroras rise.
Again Urania s leveled tube I held,
To view their route along the Heavenly field !
Onward they pass d, with wonder and delight,
Till the dim mist of flesh obscured my mental sight ;
Through spicy groves, and amaranthine bowers,
They circling pass, cropping the sweetest flowers
From beauteous trees take life s inspiring food,
No poison there- to taint life s purple blood !
But fragrant dews stand trembling on each spray,
Diffuse new life, and animate the day.
A moment listening, as they pass along,
When loud Hosanna s burst from every tongue ;
The sounds euphonious float along the air
In accents sweet, that charm the ravished ear.
With notes like these, Jesus, the Son of God,
Who hung the spangled sky, and spread the Heavens abroad
By whose creative voice the sons of men
Sprang from the earth, and must return again
To kindred dust. Blest be that power Divine
That deep, unbounded, rich, exhaustless mine
Of wisdom infinite ! Truth, Mercy, Grace,
Which all beam splendid from our Saviour s face ;
Let the arch-angels bow with radiant nod,
Low at the feet of our incarnate God !
All Heaven your voices raise in sweetest strain,
Join all your harps His praises to maintain ;
Ye fragrant gales that sweep the ambrosial bowers,
With wings perfumed that skirn those flaming towers
Built by the hand of God ; round yonder shining throne,
Raise your glad anthems to the farthest tone
Of Heaven s imperial kingdom, round and round,
Forever bear them through the immense profound.
Say, ye that chant the high arch-angels praise,
If in fant voices such sweet murmurs^raise,
What are the notes which Gabriel s concerts plays 1
10
110 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
My mind, be hushed, be calm as summer s even,
Nor form one wish to call them back from Heaven ;
For whom my heart has bled the livelong day,
But now revives with a celestial ray.
How reason sinks beneath paternal love,
Those tender charities our trembling fibres move
With griefs, with joys, with pleasure, and with pain.
Thousands of passions thousands wanting name
Rage, uncontrolled by Fieason s placid voice ;
Nor heed her strains when moved by griefs, joys,
The wondrous union twixt dull clay and mind,
Is so mysterious none but God can find
The mystic link, or see the unknown cause,
Why flesh obeys not Spirit s purer laws.
Grief, like a flood, has overwhelmed my soul,
Such as frail nature never can control.
Like boisterous waves that, foaming mountain high,
Then, thundering, dash on rocks no help is nigh
To save the sea-beat mariner, who, on an oar,
Floats to and fro, till dashed upon the shore
By the huge billow s rapid, quick retreat,
Safe lands the captive, drenched from head to feet.
With cautious step, he slowly mounts the plain,
And views the tempest lash the foaming main.
O erwhelmed with joy, he bends the thankful knee,
And wafts, great God, his humble thanks to thee.
Orange Webb, Si 1 ., was an inn keeper, at what was
called Sterling, for about forty years. In 1830, it was
changed to the name of Greenport. In Orange Webb s
days, there were but five or six dwelling houses at that
place near the landing, where was a wharf, to which
vessels of fifty or eighty tons could come. It was at
the mouth of the creek, adjoining the then Judge
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. Ill
Thomas Youngs farm of some five hundred acres. He
was some time concerned in the West India trade, in
vessels of his own. The house and establishment which
he owned and occupied, from 1770 to 1805, was the
property of Thomas Fanning from 1740 to 1770. O.
Webb s children were, sons 1st. Thomas ; 2d. John ;
3d. James; 4th. Orange; 5th. David; 6th. Silas.
Daughters 1st Fanny; 2d. Polly; 3d. Nancy.
Thomas became a very respectable ship master, and a
valuable member of society. He died in June, 1819.
John died in parts unknown ; James died at home ; Or
ange, for many years, was a merchant in New York
a man of very prepossessing address ; a Christian in
life and profession.
Noah Tuthill was the oldest son of Daniel and Ruth
Tuthill, of Oysterponds, N. Y., and was born about 1770.
When a school boy he was marked for his faithful at
tention to his book, and the rules of the school. Obe
dient and kind to his parents, he observed their directions
with the most filial affection. At all times he displayed
a mind that would compare with the brightest philan-
throphist. He died November, 1827, aged fifty-seven
years.
Some years ago, before temperance societies were
known in our region, it was fashionable for neighbors
to congregate at village taverns on long winter s even
ings, by a good fire in the bar-room. The social glass
would move merrily around, and its sparkling contents
soon produce a company of generous, jolly, indepen
dent, loquacious, intenders of kindness, and doing good
112 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
deeds to all and every needy fellow creature wliicli their
charity could reach.
They each one strove to convince his fellow how ready
and happy he was, at all times, to do everything in his
power to comfort and accommodate everyone and every
body. One was willing to lend his horse any time ;
another his cart; another his plough ; another his pitch
fork, or hoe, or anything to oblige. A more generous
set of associates seldom met, except where the decanter
stands for an hour glass.
Amidst this would-be-social group of unbounded
kindness and charity, one man sat a silent, taciturn ad
mirer of the spirit of benevolence and universal good
will which had so immediately taken possession of his
companions. He invariably hoped that it was not the
free use of toddy that had wrought this miraculous
change not inferior to that from a freezing point to a
fever heat. In a moment of silence, this man, with em
phasis, observed, " Gentlemen, you are the most com
passionate and obliging set of men in the circle of my
acquaintance. As for my good nature and readiness to
do acts of kindness, and deeds of mercy, you must ask
my neighbors. "While I might judge selfishly, they will
judge righteously." This man was I^oah Tuthill.
He was twice married. His first wife was PoLy, the
daughter of Capt. Rufus and Mary Tuthill, of Oyster-
ponds. She died in 1803, aged thirty-two years.
His second wife was Abigail, the daughter of Con
stant and Sibil Terry, of Orange county, JST. Y.
This second wife was the smiling infant in Mrs. Ter
ry s arms when I was welcomed to the hospitalities of
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 113
her house. To her husband she was all his heart could
desire. She died in 1826, aged thirty-eight years.
Noah Tuthill was the first child and first son of Daniel
Tuthill, who was known for the last forty years of his
life as Adjutant Tuthill. Although a man of property
and much known through the town, it is doubtful
whether half the rising generation knew his Christian
name. With black and white, young and old, it was
always "Adjutant." His father was Noah, whose fa
ther was Deacon Tuthill, whose father was John, whose
father, John, came to Southold with the first settlers in
1640. This second John was then only five years old.
Thomas S. Lester, Esq., was the only son of Sylvester
and Mary Lester, of Southold. Although his sojourn
on earth was brief, it was full of usefulness to his friends,
connections, town and state, in whose representative
councils he was several times an honorable member. A
more deserving man, considering his situation, age, pro
fession and calling, has rarely lived and died in South-
old. He was early chosen executor to some valuable
estates. These responsible situations he filled with great
satisfaction to the public and credit to himself.
Scarcely arrived at the meridian of life, endowed with
an excellent constitution, in the midst of extensive bu
siness and acknowledged usefulness, he died, September
13, 1817, aged thirty-six years. Mr. Lester was a
friend, benefactor and wise counsellor. He held the
office of district attorney for this county at the time of
his death.
10*
114 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Zaclieus Goldsmith, at all seasons, stood conspicuous
amidst my friends for the last thirty years. Our inter
views were always pleasant and interesting ; we agreed
in what constitutes pure and undeiiled religion, and its
invaluable effects on the life of its real possessors. I
believe he was a sincere convert to the truth, as laid
down in the gospels of the New and Old Testaments,
which point out the way to obtain that blessed spirit of
love and good-will to the whole family of man. Our
last interview was at Hazard Moor s inn, at Southold.
He then appeared as well as usual. This was Tuesday,
I think the 6th of April. On Thursday, the 8th of
April, 1835, he departed this life, aged seventy years.
His very amiable wife, Mary, was the daughter of the
late Capt. Elisha Yail, of Southold. She died 14th Sep
tember, 1849, aged seventy-three years.
Samuel, the ninth child of my parents, died suddenly
in 1784, aged near two years.
Austin the twelfth child of my parents, died in the
summer of 1791, aged two years.
Parnol, the seventh child of my parents, a very mild,
comely interesting child, died in April, 1791, at the
early age of twelve years. Her last words were "Thy
will be done."
Deziah Griffin was the third child of my parents.
She died with the small pox, December llth, 1794, aged
twenty-five years. She was a person of most amiable
address, interesting in conversation, and a kind daugh
ter. But, alas ! she was soon summoned to the silent,
darksome grave.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 115
Sometime previous to her death she received the ad
dresses of Mr. Samuel Brown, of whom mention has
been made. Mr. Brown at the time followed the sea,
and was away on a voyage. JSTot long after he sickened
and died in Philadelphia. And so it was that their
meeting was no more in this world. But may we not
hope that they have united in another and better world,
in songs of free grace and unmingled praise to God and
the Lamb for ever and ever.
Moses Griffin, the sixth child of my parents, was born
March 7th, 1775. At the age of nineteen he taught a
school in Orange county, E". Y. His pleasant, agree
able mode of governing and instructing his scholars,
procured him the just respect, love, and good-will of the
parents and pupils. His business, in the Spring of 1796,
was on the water, coast-wise. In October of that year,
he shipped as mate on board of a vessel bound to Ca
rolina, after naval stores. On their return, in Novem
ber, the vessel, with all on board, was lost. Thus he
perished in the bloom of life. He was an acknowledged
comely youth, greatly and justly beloved.
About a year previous to his death, he had formed a
very tender attachment to a young lady of the most
amiable and estimable qualities. This attachment was
reciprocal, founded on the solid and broad basis of vir
tue unstained. She mourned him not as lost, but gone
before.
Elisha Griffin, the fourth child of our parents, was
born December 2, 1770. He was, through all his
earthly sojourn, an active man ; much more inclined to
dwell on the light side of a subject than a shaded one ;
to encourage and console his associates, and his connec-
116 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
tioiis, appeared to be the cordial which was his joy to
administer. From the age of twenty-two years, he fol
lowed the seas ; sometimes to foreign ports. In 1815,
he removed his family to New York, where, after a se
vere illness, which terminated in a rapid consumption,
he died on the 7th January, 1819, aged forty -nine years.
He possessed a kind and tender heart. He viewed
honesty as a treasure equal to his existence to preserve.
He was twice married. His first wife was Hannah, a
twin daughter of Major Nathaniel and Experience
King. By this amiable woman, he had one child (Hen
rietta) now the excellent wife of an excellent man
Mr. Hewlett Smith, of Jamaica, Queens County.
His second wife was Phoebe, who resided in New
York. By her, he had a family of three or four boys,
and, I believe, only one daughter, who is now a mar
ried woman, living at Harlem, New York, named Har
riet. His boys were Augustus, Peter, Samuel and
John Orville. This last one died a few months since,
at Poughkeepsie, New York.
Never is the human heart so buoyant with bliss and
joy as when conscious of a sincere desire to do good
to others, by sharing with them the blessings which
Providence has conferred upon us. What joy and sa
tisfaction fill the heart of the benevolent man, when he
sees his fellow man made happy through his charity.
My grandfather, Jonathan Terry, married Lydia, the
daughter of Deacon Daniel and Mehitable Tuthill, of
Oysterponds, by whom he had twelve children, whose
names were :
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 117
1st. Jonathan, born May, 1T38 ; died Nov. 1816.
2d. Thomas, born 1740 ; died at the age of fourteen
years.
3d. Lydia, born 1742 ; died in 1819.
4th. Ruth, born Nov., 1744; died in Oct., 1836.
5th. Deziah, born Feb., 1746 ; died Nov., 14, 1814.
6th. Noah, born Sept.. 1747 ; died Oct., 1815.
7th. Mchitable, born Sept., 1749; died Feb. 12,
1835.
8th. Patience, born 1752 ; died about three years old.
9th. Patience, born 1755 ; lived but two days.
10th. Thomas, born 1757 ; died 1824.
llth. Daniel Tuthill, born Dec., 1759.
12th. Patience, born 1751 ; died Jan. 14, 1835.
Jonathan, the first of these brothers, was a man of
great resolution. At the age of seventy-eight, lie ap
peared to retain all the vigorous powers of a sound
man of thirty-five. Would bear watching, fatigue and
hunger with surprising energy ; with the suppleness of
a lad of fifteen years, mount and manage a restive
horse, with all the animation of a disciplined sports
man. It is generally conceded that he rose with the
sun every morning, for the space of fifty years before
his death. What was said of Moses, the great Jewish
law-giver, may be said of Mr. Terry at seventy-eight
"His eye was not dim, neither his natural force
abated." lie died of the effects of a fall, of near
twenty feet, which fractured his skull, in November,
1816. He was an accommodating neighbor. His wife
was Jemima, the daughter of Benjamin Brown, of
Oysterponds. He (Brown) died in 1774. She (Jemi
ma) died April, 1803, aged fifty-four years.
118 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
He had a second wife Dorothy who was daughter
of Jeremiah Tuthill. Her father, who was grandson
to John Tuthill, or, as he was called, " Chalker John,"
died in 1808, aged eighty-four years.
Noah Terry, a son of Jonathan, was born September
1747, and died October, 1815, aged sixty-eight years.
In his boyhood, he was noticed as differing from his
mates in every situation where fear is common, and,
sometimes, prudent. Hogs, bulls, or wild horses, it ap
pears, had no terrors for Noah when a boy. Just so in
manhood. His bold daring, in whatever course he
deemed proper and right, were not to be thwarted by
obstacles which would often daunt men of acknow
ledged resolution. His courage and determined man
ner was always without noise or bluster ; his modesty
and good sense showed itself in never giving the least
semblance of boast at any feat, action, or charitable ex
pression performed by him, as heroic.
In the memorable winter of 1780, this adventurous
man crossed Oysterpond Harbor to Shelter Island, a
distance of near four miles, over the ice, on horseback.
He performed this several times. Not another man in
the town would do it.
At one time, he took with him on the same horse a
resolute young lady, nurse to Mrs. Terry. When about
two-thirds of the way over, where there is a rapid tide,
which is the channel, here the ice had separated about
three feet. Nothing daunted, he dismounted, and as
sisted the lady so to do. He leaped the spirited horse
over the chasm, lifted the woman over, set her on the
pillion again, and galloped off to the island.
On another time, while crossing a large bay on the
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 119
ice, the same winter, the ice gave way, and his horse
sunk to rise no more. He barely escaped with his life.
In 1790, he removed from Long Island to Orange
County. Here he purchased a farm, on which he lived
until 1802, when he sold it. After this period, his
visits to his friends on Long Island were extended to
months. He had become much broken in body a type
of fallen manhood, as was said of the late Vice-Presi-
dent Burr, when near eighty years of age.
In 1814, a large torpedo boat, which had been
fitted out at New York to annoy the British ships
then lying off Fisher s Island, on her way to the ren
dezvous designated, while off against Southold, in the
Sound, a severe gale of northerly wind drove the boat
on shore a little east of Ashamomac Beach. After
lying there a day or two, a British ship and brig came
and anchored near where she lay. As they were ar
ranging a number of barges for landing men to des
troy the torpedo, they kept up an almost constant firing
of cannon. The balls flew around said boat, over the
-farm of Mr. Mulford, and through his house and out
houses, commencing with din and noise, which alarmed
the people for miles in every direction. Noah Terry
was on his way to Southold, by the road which passed
within a few rods of where this target of a boat lay, at
which they were firing. When opposite the torpedo,
Noah dismounted, left his horse, got on the torpedo
boat, took off his hat, swung it, and gave cheers, re
mounted his horse, and, amidst the roar of cannon and
whistling of balls, some of which ploughed deep fur
rows near the highway, he galloped on his way to
town.
120 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
He was three times married. His first wife was
Sally, the daughter of Abraham Parker, of Shelter Is
land ; his second wife was Peggy, the widow of Joseph
Halstead ; his third wife was a widow Fall.
He was of the middle size, about five feet eight or
nine inches, stout built, of quick and manly step, a
piercing dark eye, enlivened by a countenance express
ive and determined.
He died at the house of his brother Thomas, at
Southold. His death was like the man through his
life. When dying, he, in his perfect senses, observed
his brother Thomas weeping. He says, " Brother, what
makes you weep?" Thomas said, "I think you are
dying." His last words followed thus, in answering
" Thomas, I am not afraid to die."
A tranquil submission to the methods of Providence
bespeak the goodness of the heart. Those who wish to
conquer their fate must submit to it cheerfully.
Thomas, brother to Koah Terry, was born in 1757,
and died in 1824, in his sixty-seventh year. His life
was marked with true benevolence, and St. Paul s chief-
grace, charity. He was respected and greatly beloved
by all who knew him. I believe 1 am warranted in
saying that our town has not produced, for the last hun
dred years, a man more deserving the character, and
imbibing more of the spirit of the Samaritan of the
Scriptures than Thomas Terry.
His good sense, his every day acts of kindness, with
the most affectionate smile of complacence, constrains
us to an involuntary praise applied to Daniel, the Pro
phet " O, man, greatly beloved."
He married, in the year 1780, Esther, the daughter
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 121
of Christopher Tiithill, of Ojsterponds. She, a de
voted wife, died January, 1844, in her eighty-seventh
year.
Daniel Tuthill Terry, youngest son of Jonathan and
Lydia Terry, was born December, 1759, and died Sep
tember, 1830, in his seventy-first year. His mother be
came a widow soon after he entered the age of fifteen.
To this parent he was all she could desire. His mode
of settling differences betwixt neighbors and producing
peace, was proverbially successful.
We believe, with great good reason, that Daniel T.
Terry, in almost every instance of his life, was a pro
totype of his uncle John, who was called Chalker
John. In manners, judgment, and consummate skill in
solving questions in arithmetic, they were equal. The
first was honored with a seat as a Representative in the
Assembly of the colony of !S r ew York, in 1693- 4 ; the
last was honored with the like station, in the State,
in 1809, one hundred and .sixteen years afterwards.
John, at the time of his seat, was forty years of age ;
Daniel was fifty years old. They were men of mode
rate property, which they chiefly acquired by their own
industry and economy yet, charitable, benevolent arid
manly in all their dealings.
Daniel, in his person, w r as, as in his dress, plain but
neat. In height, about five feet ten inches ; never
fleshy, but enjoying good health, with an equanimity
of mind and spirit rare to be met with.
He was twice married. His first wife was Rhoda,
the daughter of Christopher and Phoebe Tuthill, a wo
man of superior kindness ; she died in 1809. His se
ll
122 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
cond wife was Mary, daughter of Major Calvin and
Peggy Moore. By his first wife, lie had eight children
by his second, one.
There were five daughters of Jonathan and Lydia
Terry. The first was Lydia, who married Silas Beebe,
in the year 1763, at Plumb Island, in this township,
by whom she had eleven children. Her husband, Mr.
Silas Beebe, was a generous-hearted man, accommoda
ting almost to a fault. His death took place in the year
1808, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.
Ruth, the second daughter, was married to Mr. Ste
phen Yail, of Oysterponds, in the year 1T63, by whom
she had twelve children. Her movements, expressions,
countenance, and actions, were always, and in her every
domestic department, assuredly the harbingers of peace,
love and good-will. She lived to hold in her lap and
embrace the children of her great grand-daughter!
These, with herself were the fifth generation.
Stephen, the husband of this estimable woman, was
a tender, kind-hearted man, but unfortunate, often, in
many of his purchases. He could not behold distress
unmoved ; yet, his buying and selling often led him to
go beyond his means, which brought him often in un
pleasant circumstances. However, he left considerable
property. He died 1806 ; was born 1741.
Mehitable, the fourth daughter, at the age of twenty-
four, was married to Jonathan Tuthill. Soon after,
Captain Tuthill took command of a vessel called the
Mehitable, and went on a voyage to the West Indies.
The war with England soon broke out, and Tuthill quit
the sea. He died suddenly in 1807, aged about sixty-
six years.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 123
Patience was the youngest daughter and child, born
in 1761, and, at the age of twenty-two, was married to
Jeremiah Y. Tuthill.
This Mr. Tuthill was one of the twelve children of
Mr. Christopher and Phoebe Tuthill six sons and six
daughters. They all lived to be married. The first
one of them dying at the age of thirty years, at the
time the wife of Mr. Ezra Corwin, of Acquebogue. At
this time, there is only one living, viz : Matsey, widow
of the late John Youngs, in her eighty-fourth year.
In noticing the nine children which arrived to adult
age, of Jonathan and Lydia Terry, I think it may be
somewhat interesting to observe their ages united
Jonathan, 79 years old at the time of his death.
Noah, 69 "
Thomas, 67 " "
Daniel T. 71
Lydia, 77
Deziah, 69 " "
Mehitable, 85
Kuth, 92 "
Patience, 74
683
Gives to each seventy-five years and eight-ninths,
something uncommon in a family of nine children.
This was a rare family. Their morals, virtues and
habits were worthy of imitation, and I feel myself in
adequate to delineate in its true light the halo of worth
which surrounded the sons and daughters of this house
hold throughout their long lives. They all lived and
124 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
died as men and women should useful while living,
and when called to depart, each was ready.
In August, 1830, Mrs. Harriet Petty, wife of Mr.
Orange Petty, of Orient, gave birth to three children,
two girls and a boy. They were living when born, but
died in the course of two or three days.
In April, 1831, Mrs. Polly Yail, wife of Henry Yail,
of Orient, was confined with three children at one
birth two boys and one girl. They lived about three
days. Mrs. Yail and Mrs. Petty were first cousins,
and descendants of John Tuthill, who first landed at
Southold. They are of the sixth generation.
David, the fifth son of Orange "Webb, Sr., before
mentioned, became a ship master of much celebrity in
New York and Liverpool, and other foreign ports. He
was a man much esteemed for his social qualities, just
in his dealings, generous to the needy. We have good
reason to say he died the death of the righteous, June
1, 1818, in his fifty-third year. His wife, Elizabeth,
died in October, 1820. She was an exemplary wife,
whose price is above rubies.
Silas, the sixth son, as did his brothers, Thomas and
David, also became a ship master. He w r as what the
world calls a brave, fine-looking man, of great viva
city, wit, and uncommon powers to personate, in speech
and laugh, the full-blooded African. In these, I never
knew his equal. As he advanced in life, he discarded
such amusements, became a professer of the religion
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 125
of Christ, and, it is said, died in the faith, on the 6th
March, 1849, in the eighty-first year of his age.
Fanny, first daughter of Orange Webb, who, at the
age of nineteen, married a Captain Duniky, by whom
she had a daughter Sally. She (Mrs. Duniky) died
soon after. Sally, in time, became the wife of James
Harris, a merchant in ~Ne w York. He left her a widow
some years since. Polly, second daughter of O. Webb,
died the widow of Captain Elisha King. Nancy, third
daughter, died the widow of Captain David King.
In the autumn of 17Y6, as the British were taking
possession of Long Island, the inhabitants of Southold
and Oysterponds, with other neighboring towns, were
panic-struck at their approach. We had been told that
the Hessians were savages, and would show no mercy.
The excitement occasioned by such sad expectations, in
almost every family in Southold and Oysterponds, was
melancholy. Without reflecting or considering the
consequences and sacrifices of leaving their pleasant
homes to an invading, cruel enemy, they immediately
set about removing their families into the State of Con
necticut. This they did in great haste, as has been
stated previously.
To remove the stock and poultry, with many other
valuables, in such a short notice, was impossible. Of
course, it was left to the mercy of the invading, heart
less foe, whose care for such live and necessary provi
sion, was in exact keeping with the wolf and the fox,
whose proffered services were accepted to watch over
the flocks of geese and sheep.
126 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
What hearts, what fortitude, what sublimity and he
roism of soul must have actuated our mothers, grand
mothers, and their invaluable husbands, to submit and
cheerfully make all these unparalleled sacrifices, that
their children and descendants might befcome the par
takers of that sweetest of all earthly fruits Liberty !
In these days of bustle, excitements, sorrow and
trouble, Peter Griffin, of Southokl, who, with his in
teresting family of six promising children and wife, left
this island.
In those seasons of trial and peril, Peter was owner
and master of a fine sailing sloop. By good *nanage-
ment and great attention to the longshore business, in
such a vesssel, he had realized a handsome support ;
but now, in consequence of the British cruisers, his
situation, as to doing business coast-wise, was critical.
In crossing from the main to the island, he was often in
imminent danger. Once, in the autumn of 1776, he ar
rived safe in Oysterpond Harbor in the morning. Af
ter landing, he proceeded to the inn of Aunt Hannah
Brown, as she was called in those days, who kept an
inn. After inquiring whether there were any of the
enemy in the place, and learning that there was not
just at that time, he called for a breakfast. Soon after
he and his men had seated themselves at the table, a
child came running into the room, and screaming at the
top of its lungs, " The troops are coming ; the troops
are coming !" And, sure, they were within half a mile,
on horseback. Captain Griffin and his men immedi
ately ran across the fields to his small boat, then at the
landing. They launched her, and boarded the vessel
about the time the troops readied the shore, within
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 127
twenty-five rods of the vessel. They drew up abreast,
dismounted, and gave Griffin s sloop the contents of
their guns. Before they could reload, Griffin, who was
a marksman, took from the cabin his old King s arms,
and, without ceremony, returned the fire. At this,
they, in much confusion, took refuge behind the near
est house. With much tact and skill in charging his
piece, he made several shots at them, which kept them
skulking and dodging until he could weigh anchor and
be off. Several of the bullets discharged from his gun
lodged in the house, which now is ownsd by the heirs
of the late George Champlin. A year or so after this,
Captain Griffin lost his vessel, being captured by the
English sloop-of-war Swan. The Swan was several
times in Southold Harbor. At one time, while on
shore, Captain Asknew, her commander, was sur
prised by a party of Yankees, who attacked him as
he was pushing off from shore in his barge for his ship.
These Yankees fired into his barge, wounding him in
his foot, which lamed him for life. I saw him there in
1780.
It is said, and no doubt it is a fact, that these parties
of horse which often came to Oysterponds, were Tories
of Long Island.
Dr. John Gardiner, of Southold, died October 25,
1823, aged seventy-four years. As a physician in this
town, he was greatly esteemed. His address and very
ingenious remarks on visiting his patients, were often
powerful incentives towards comforting the invalids
whose disorders were more in the mind than in the
128 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
body. To such, his well-timed anecdotes were balsams.
As a doctor of physic, he was truly valuable. His
practice was from Mattituck to Plumb Island, more
than thirty miles. He commenced in 1781, and con
tinued until his death 1823. In the Revolutionary
War, he was sometime surgeon s mate on board of one
of the American frigates. His first wife was Abigail
Worth, a very pious woman. His second wife was
Peggy, the eldest daughter of Major Calvin Moore. A
large stone marks the Doctor s grave, whose inscription
describes the man in a true and honorable likeness. It
is well worth a perusal. It can be seen at Southold
Cemetery.
Koah Racket, who died in 1849, aged ninety-two
years, said that his first ancestor to this town was about
1690, and his name was either Daniel or John. From
old writings I have seen, I believe it was John, and his
wife, Elizabeth. From an old record, I find there was
such a man and his wife in this town, in the year 1698.
There is no doubt but this couple were the progenitors
of all the families of this name in the State of j^ew
York.
This John Racket, who, it appears, settled in what
was then called Rocky Point now East Marion had
a son John, born about 1690. He (the last mentioned
John) was conspicuous in the first church in Oyster-
ponds, and the first established Deacon. At the time
the first meeting house was built in Oysterponds, Mr.
Racket must have been about thirty-two years old, and
was ordained a deacon as early as 1735. Daniel Tut-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 129
hill was deacon about the same time, or a few years
after, and as lie was about the age of Deacon Racket,
it is probable they took the office nearly together, and
were united in the church, as officers for thirty or forty
years. Racket was altogether called Deacon Racket ;
so, from 1740 to 1762, Tuthill was only known by all
his juniors as Deacon Daniel Tuthill.
The said Deacon John Racket had two sons, whose
names were John and Jonathan, and a daughter, whose
name was Rachel, who became the wife of Gideon
Youngs. John, the Deacon s first son, had two child
ren, viz: Benjamin and Mehitable. Benjamin was
the father of Noah Racket. Mehitable married a Mr.
Cleve, of Acquebogue.
Jonathan, second son of Deacon John Racket, mar
ried Hannah, the daughter of Samuel King and the
widow of Nathaniel, who was the eldest son of Deacon
Daniel Tuthill.
The children of this marriage were five sons and one
daughter, viz : Jonathan, Daniel, Samuel, John, Absa
lom, and Hannah. Jonathan married Hannah, the
daughter of David and Ruth Wiggins. Daniel mar
ried Bethia, daughter of John and Patience Havens.
Samuel married Rhoda, the daughter of Reuben
Youngs. John married Mehitable, the daughter of
John and Martha Terry. Absalom married the daugh
ter of Thomas and Rhoda Youngs ; and Hannah mar
ried Sylvanus Brown, of Acquebogue.
John Racket, by his wife, had three sons, viz : John,
David and Elisha. The first, John, died at the age of
about six years.
David, the second son of John and Mehitable
130 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Backet, married Nancy, daughter of Abraham and
Hannah Racket.
Elisha, third son, married Abigail, the daughter of
Jeremiah and Elizabeth Sherril, of Easthampton, by
whom he had three children, sons, viz : John Albert,
born in 1808 ; Elisha Sherry, born in 1811 ; and Sydney
Philander, born 1814. These are all valuable members
of society, and stand fair as masters of fine vessels.
There were three brothers of the Wiggins family at
Southold, contemporary with our fathers of the date of
1730, or near that period, viz : James, David and Tho
mas. This last became a physician of much respecta
bility, and settled down in New Jersey, where he died
without .issue. He left property, only a part of which
he left to his blood relations. His wife died many
years before him she, in 1T90 and lies buried in the
cemetery, which was a part of the farm of the late
Judge Thomas Youngs. His remains repose in the bu
rial place where many of the Presidents of Princeton
College lie. He died in or about the year 1810.
David, another brother, was a farmer and miller. The
latter he attended a part of the time, as he was owner
of a part of a mill which stood on his farm, on the
shore of Shelter Island Ferry, opposite Hay Beach.
He was a peaceable man ; lived to the age of about
ninety-one. He died not far from 1810. His children
were David, Thomas, William, Mehitable, Ruth and
Hannah. His wife was Ruth, the daughter of Thomas
Terry, 3rd, and sister to the late Colonel Thomas Terry,
of Oysterponds.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 131
James, another brother, was born in 1733, and died
in 1802, aged sixty-nine years. His wife was Mehitable,
and sister to his brother David s wife. She (Mehitable)
died in 1801, aged sixty-two years. From 1770 to 1776,
James Wiggins followed the sea, and was known as
Captain Wiggins. By his wife, he had two children
a son, James, born 1768 ; died 1829 : Mehitable, born
1765 ; died 1806.
In the year 1698, there was a Mr. James Wiggins
and Annis Wiggins, I suppose his wife. We believe,
as this James was not at the time over twenty-six years
old, which would have made him more than fifty-six
years older than these three brothers, from that, I am
satisfied this James was the son to the first of the
family that came to Southold, which was probably be
tween the years of 1660 and 1670, or 1680. It would
come pretty near the mark to say the first Wiggins
who settled in Southold, was born about 1640, or near
that date. His son was the James who signed his
name to a document we have seen, in 1698, when he
must have been about twenty-six years old. If so, he
was born about 1672. His son, probably named James,
born about 1698, which would bring him of suitable
age to be the father of David, born about 1725 ;
Thomas, born about 1730 ; and James in 1733 the
three brothers first noticed.
The father of the three brothers first mentioned, was,
as we are informed, named John, who was son or
grandson to the first of the family to this New World.
From some old papers I have seen, I am led to suppose
that said John was a son to the first of the Wiggins
family to this country, and his (John s) father was
132 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
James. He probably came out not far from 1660, or,
at farthest, 1670. If David, the eldest of the three
brothers, was born in 1725, his father (John) forty years
older, was born in 1685. His (John s) father, thirty-
five years older, born in 1650, would make him (James)
in 1670, only twenty years of age.
Benjamin King, Jr., who died in Lyme, Connecticut,
April 19, 1780, was born September 23, 1750. Was
the oldest of two sons, viz : Benjamin and Henry.
Benjamin, their father, was well known throng] i the
town of Southold, from 1760 to 1790, as Uncle Ben
King. As an old fashioned joiner and carpenter, he
was conspicuous for his short, emphatic stories, divert-
ingly told. He was faithful, economical, and yet al
ways in moderate circumstances, although always doing
something. Henry, his second son, was his chief sup
port the last few years of his life. He and his wife
Betsey both died about the year 1791, aged seventy-one
years. They were neither of them members of any
church. She was faithful as a wife, and cared well for
her household ; he was an honest man. Benjamin, the
oldest son of Benjamin, was much respected as a liberal
minded man ; a pleasant companion. Soon after the
commencement of the War of the Revolution, he was ap
pointed to the command of a privateer. We well re
member him as a fine-looking man about six feet high.
In 1777 he maried Abigail, daughter of Col. Thomas,
and Abigail Terry ; by this lady he had two sons, Edward
Conkling, born, August 2d, 1778. At the age of about
twenty-three or four, Edward settled in N^ewbnrn, North
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 133
Carolina, where he married and had three children
daughters. Was a merchant of consequence and a
judge, he was a pleasant scholar, with a taste for poetry.
See his elegy on Mrs. Deziah Griffin, in appendix to
this volume. He died while on a visit to New York, in
September 2d, 1827. To know him, was to be pleased
with him.
Benjamin the second son of Captain Benjamin and
Abigail King, was born June 13th, 1780, and died 12th
April, 1850, aged sixty-nine years, and ten months.
"With his brother Edward, his opportunities to procure
a good common school education, were wisely improved,
as their future lives fully testified. When about twenty-
five years of age, he married an only daughter of Mr.
Payne, of Wading River, near what is called Miller s
Place, ; soon after this, he commenced keeping a store,
which he continued to do for some years. When near
forty years of age, he was appointed to the office of a
justice of the peace ; this station he held for a number
of years. He was an executor to the estate of the late
E. W. King, Esq. His advice, counsel, and straight for
ward and energetic way of settling the concerns of that
estate, which was large, and to cultivate union and peace
with the sons and daughters, and satisfy the bereaved
widow, were successful.
Died at Utica, New York, on Wednesday, 22d No
vember, 1848, Eev. John C. Rudd, aged 70 years. In
the years 1799 and 1800, this gentleman, then a young
man of about twenty-one years, was teaching a district
12
134 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
school on Shelter island, and boarded with General
Sylvester Dering, of whose friendship he partook large
ly. In 1801 he opened a school in New York City.
While a teacher of a common school, he was considered
a studious young man. By some fortunate circumstance,
he gained the good will and friendship of Bishop Moore,
who became his teacher of Divinity he succeeded, and
became an approved clergyman of the Episcopal order.
He settled at Utica, and it was at his house where Bishop
Hobart died. Mr. E-udd edited a paper, some years
before he died, called the " Christian Messenger." He
was a D. D. before his death. By great diligence he
gained the summit of his desires.
Previous to the year 1700, the inhabitants of Orient
and East Marioh, w r ere under the necessity of going to
the village of Southold, to have their grain made into
meal. Not far from the above date, they, (some two
or three of them,) had a wind-mill built on the South
Beach, about half-way between Mr. Jonathan Trueman s
house and the Orient Creek. This mill stood (answer
ing a good purpose,) until about 1760, when it was
taken down, and a second one was constructed and built
by Amon Taber, Sr. Its owner was Noah Tuthill, son
of the late Deacon Daniel Tuthill. This second mill
stood, doing good service, until 1810, and that year a
third one was put up. Its builder was Nathaniel Do-
miny, Jr., a natural mechanical genius, having not
spent any time to learn a trade ; his father Nathaniel,
Sr., is said to have been a first rate watchmaker, yet
never serving any time to learn the art. This third
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 135
windmill stands where the second stood, and cost about
$2000. The father died at Easthampton not far from
1800.
Who can but admire and wonder at the facts related
of the heroism and courage which marked the eventful
lives of our Revolutionary mothers and wives, in the
dark years of that sanguine war.
What hours of anguish ! What floods of tears must
they have shed beneath their lonely roofs, during that
eight years of desolation, unheard-of cruelty and inj us-
tice inflicted on our country by the heartless foe.
In our isolated town of Southold, there were in
those days of sorrow, a number of those noble hearted
women, whose fortitude, and sterling virtues rendered
them worthy of the highest consideration, and their
memory held precious to the latest posterity. With
hearts as Deborahs , they came up to the help of the
Lord against the mighty, who resorted to the most un
lawful and cruel actions to thwart the achievement of
our honorable Independence.
Richard Brown, the fourth of his family, in succession,
known in his day, as Ensign Brown, died at the com
mencement of the Revolutionary War, aged about
seventy-seven years. His wife, who was, when a girl,
named Hannah Hawk, was at the time of his demise,
about sixty years of age, with an excellent constitution
and a strong mind, she entered the meloncholy state of
widow-hood. Her family, with those of a number of
grandchildren, who were orphans now, made her house
hold large ; yet, it appears she proved to the world, and
her neighbors that wisdom, prudence and discretion,
136 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
marked her every movement in the government of the
charge committed. Soon after the death of her hus
band, she commenced keeping a Tavern, or Inn ; over
this establishment she presided with circumspection
and dignity. At this time, Long Island was in the
possession of the British, and Oysterponds was swarm
ing with British, Hessians and Tories. It was in
the Autumn of 1777, on a pleasant evening, that a file
of armed soldiers, without ceremony, entered the house
of Mrs. Brown. The officer ordered Mrs. Brown to open
the door of the room containing the liquors instantly, or
he would stave it down. At this threat, accompanied
with a horrid oath, she rushed between them and the
door, against which she placed her back. He appeared a
moment astonished at such fortitude, but collecting him
self swore her instant destruction; and with great vio
lence thrust the muzzle of his gun against the door on
each side of her person, and as near as he could without
hitting her. The marks of those thrusts remained vis-
able for more than sixty years after. She stood facing and
thus addressed him, " you unfeeling wretch, you hired
tool of a tyrant, your conduct is worse than a savage,
my sit ation you see here, is lonely, I am without a hu
man protector ; but know you, Mr. Officer, surrounded as
you are with men and arms, that I despise your threats,
and if you pass the threshold of this door, you will first
pass over my lifeless body." Such language pronounced
with emphasis, and true self possession from a lone wo
man, at such a time and place, was too much for his
cowardly soul, to withstand. He quailed, muttered and
g umbled a hasty retreat.
Mrs. Hannah Brown, died in the Autumn of 1789,
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 137
aged more than eighty years. To the poor she was hos
pitable to the sick and distressed, attentive and chari
table. She was true to her country s cause, and did all
in her power to aid those who were fighting for its inde-
pendance.
In the Summer of 1781, two whale-boats, manned
with twenty men, lauded at Southold harbor, and march
ed up about a mile to Joseph Peck s Inn, made free
with his liquors and provisions, abused his family and
wounded him seriously with their weapons ; they then
left for their boats, insulting and robbing the inhabi
tants by the way. Near their boats was the house of
Mr. Constant Lhommedieu, which they entered with
words and actions becoming heathens. Mr. Lhomme
dieu, mildly spoke to their leader, at which he raised
his cutlass at Mr. L s. head. Mrs. L. saw it and with
true fortitude, rushed between this fiend and her hus
band, and received the blow on her naked arm. Her
arm was broke, but her husband s life was saved. The
wretch, at seeing such self-devotion and congugal purity,
in haste left, wondering who could think of subduing a
nation of such women and wives.
It was the presence of woman that cheered the
lonely ocean pilgrims of those exiles who trusted their
fortunes to the frail planks of the Mayflower sloop when
landing in the autumn of 1620, at Plymouth.
Who is not familiar with the part so wisely played
by the heroic wives, mothers and daughters of the Re-
12*
138 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
volutionary War? Shining examples of their self-
denial, their patriotism, constancy, and courage, have
come down to us ; but the hallowed story of their ef
forts, sufferings, and trials, is yet unportrayed in colors
adequate to the touching, affecting story.
Abigail Moore was the daughter of Robert Hemp-
stead, of Southold. She was well-informed, and, at the
age of eighteen years, married John Ledyard, whojhen
lived in Groton, Connecticut. He soon after command
ed a vessel in the mercantile business to distant ports.
By Mrs. Ledyard, he had four children, viz: John,
Thomas, George and Fanny.
John became celebrated as a traveler. He was a
man of great powers of mind and decision of charac
ter. His eulogy on Woman has given him an imper
ishable name in the estimation of all the sex through
out the civilized world. He died in Cairo, in Egypt,
in 1778, in his thirty-eighth year.
John Ledyard, his father, died while at sea, in the
prime of his life. His true and amiable wife, at the
time, was young, disconsolate, and left with, as before
said, four young children. About the year 1765, having
been a widow nine years, she was married to Dr. Micah
Moore, of Southold, a respectable physician, and an or
nament and pillar to the church.
By Dr. Moore, Mrs. Moore had three daughters,
viz : Abigail, born 1765 ; Julia, born 1767; and Phoebe,
born 1769. Mr. Moore died in 1775, leaving his widow
with another young family. This was on the eve of
the Revolutionary War. Distress and desolation was
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 139
on the borders of our country. She was now about
fifty years of age, with seven children. The scenes
which she was destined to witness, and lived to pass
through, occasioned by an eight years war, were try
ing and dreadful, especially in the forlorn state of wid
owhood. In the immediate neighborhood of Mrs.
Moore, were quartered numbers of the English and
German soldiers. These last carried terror in their
movements. Their language, to us, was a jargon.
Amidst and surrounded by these, she conducted her
house with piety and wisdom.
It was on a certain evening, during this struggle, that
she was placed in a situation to test her fortitude. An
officer, with a drawn sword, entered her house with se
veral soldiers. Her children, frightened, came around
her for protection. The officer, in a rough voice, ob
served, " Madam, I am informed you harbor deserters
here. If it is true, by the Eternal God, I will lay your
house in ashes before morning !" Mrs. Moore heard
this threat and oath with perfect calmness, looked him
full in the face, and said, " Sir, I am a widow, but feel
myself perfectly secure under the protection of that
Providence which has thus far sustained me. My trust
is in God ; I have no fears from man. Allow me to re
quest who was your informer?" He quickly replied,
" That man," pointing to Elnathan Burts,* who stood
* Elnathan Burts was an inhabitant of Southold a man of not much
repute about thirty years of age, living with his father in a small house
one half mile east of Ashmomogue Beach. While the British were quar
tered at Southold, he wars much with them, and, as it appears, it was
for no good purpose. In the spring of 1781, his neighbors attempted to
arrest him for some mischievous act John Boiseau, Nat Lhommedieu,
Stephen Baily, Thomas Ledyard and Joshua Horton, all young men. Hor-
140 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
present. She as readily answered, " He is a liar ; and,
if you choose, I will prove him that, and more." They
left.
Fanny, Mrs. Abigail Moore s only daughter by her
first husband, Captain Ledyard, was on a visit to Gro-
ton, at her uncle s, Colonel Ledyard s, when he was
massacred at Fort Griswold, in September, 1781. She,
as an angel of mercy, and alive to every tender feeling
of humanity, was the first to enter the Fort to adminis
ter to the wounded and dying, who were left in and
near the Fort after the enemy had left this scene of
their fiendish cruelty and slaughter. With all the di
vine emotions of pure, affectionate woman, she flew to
the wretched, disfigured, distressed group, whose bodies
were covered with blood. She washed their wounds,
allayed their parching thirst, and did all in her power
to alleviate and assuage their pains and acute distress.*
On entering the Fort, the first object that met her
eyes was the body of her dead uncle, lying in a pool of
blood. Some years after this affecting scene, she mar
ried Mr. Richard Peters, a merchant of Southold, with
whom she lived a number of years. f After this, it be
came her melancholy lot to put on the sable garb of
widowhood. This robe she wore until her death, which
took place in 1815, in her sixty-second year.
ton, who was foremost in pursuit, was shot dead by Burts, wko then
went and took refuge with the British. Some year or two after this
murder, Burts died of the small pox.
* Mr. Jephsa Latham was in the Fort at the time, and survived the
awful catastrophe. I knew him well, and have heard him tell the dole
ful tale.
f She has, at this time, a grandson Richard Peters living on the old
homestead, at Southold, which was built abont 1670.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 141
Captain Ledyard s second son, Thomas, died near
1812, aged about sixty years. His third son, George,
died about 1814, near sixty years old.
Julia, the second daughter of Mrs. Abigail Moore,
by Dr. Moore, died the widow of the late Matthias
Case, on the 2d September, 1855, aged eighty-eight
years. She was born August, 1767. Her path through
life was marked by conscious rectitude.
The self-denial, patriotism and courage of our Revo
lutionary women merit a conspicuous page in the vol
ume of American History. Many of them were truly
mothers in Israel.
Mrs. Deborah Townsend, the amiable wife of Jothom
Townsend, of Queens County, New York, deserves a
notice for her fearless stand and strength of mind in
the cause of her country.
It was in the summer of the year 1777, when the
British had full possession of Long Island, the arduous
cares of a family of children and their wants devolved
on Mrs. Townsend. He husband had joined the army
of Washington ; he had been honored with the com
mission of Captain. His fine farm was situated at what
is called " Cedar Swamp," Queens County. It was in
the morning, while the lonely Mrs. Townsend was im
mersed in the attentions incident to a household of
children, and when she was preparing for baking, that
a small party of British cavalry rode up to the house,
dismounted, and abruptly entered the apartment where
Mrs. Townsend was busied in her domestic duties. The
officer, with warmth, apart from every vestige of civil-
142 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
itj, demanded of Mrs. Townsend the keys of the grain-
house, as, he observed, his horses must be fed immedi
ately. She, with dignity and self-possession, hesitated
a compliance ; told them she had not any grain for
them. He replied, with a threat, that if she did not
instantly deliver them up, he w^ould split the door
down. He proceeded, as if to execute his fiendish pro
mise. She, without a second thought, seized a large
bread shovel, which she wielded with such consummate
courage and skill over his head, that, astonished and
confounded, he and his men soon made a hasty retreat,
exclaiming, with warmth, " If this woman is a sample
of the wives of our opponents, it is useless to think of
subduing them."
In October, 1850, John K. Townsend took me out in
his carriage to the farm of his late father, Jotham
Townsend, at Cedar Swamp, of a little more than two
hundred acres. From the handsome sight on which the
spacious house and out-buildings stand, you can see
every field and orchard on the place. It is now pos
sessed by Mr. John K. s brother, Micajah Townsend.
It was here, in this secluded retreat, that Mrs. Town-
send, their mother, resided when she displayed such an
undaunted, fearless and determined resolution. Such
decision of character and contempt of fear, lonely and
unprotected as she was, truly merits a panegyric. I
was also shown the family cemetery. Two marble stones
show the resting-place of the bodies of their parents.
It is about one hundred rods from the house, on the
borders of a beautiful grove.
The son, to whom I feel myself indebted for marked
civilities, is now in his seventy-ninth year. Jotham
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 143
Townsend died in the year 1815. Mrs. Deborah Town-
send died February 27, 1841, in her ninety -fifth year.
Her grandson, Dr. Charles W. Townsend, who died in
1850, wrote the following epitaph for her gravestone:
" Her path through life was that of rectitude, and Chris
tianity the basis of her faith and hope.
Charity, a colored servant of Jotham Townsend,
above noticed, died in May, 1850, near the residence of
her late master and mistress, at the advanced age of
one hundred and five years. Humility, virtue, indus
try, and obedience, through a long life, marked her as
one of the most faithful of the African family. Her
pious mistress, Mrs. Deborah Townsend, was her friend
and guide for more than three score and ten years.
Amon Taber, the first of the family of his name,
came to Oysterponds about the year 1730, from New
London, where his stay had been of short duration.
His parents, or grand-parents, first located at New Bed
ford on their arrival in this country. Soon after his
settlement in this vicinity, he attracted the attention of
the inhabitants of this parish and Southold, as a joiner
and carpenter of no common skill. In stature, he was
short and stocky, and of very industrious habits. Me
chanical ingenuity and warm resolution soon procured
him the deserved consideration of all who knew him.
About the year 1732, at the age of twenty-six years, he
was employed to finish the inside of the meeting house
at Southold, which was thirty-two by fifty-two feet.
Said house had been covered, and so far completed as
to hold their meeting in, since 1711. Mr. Taber was to
144 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
finish off the lower part with pews, generally of about
an equal size. The whole finish of the inside was to be
done by ceiling. For this purpose, the congregation
had chosen a committee to superintend the work and
purchase the materials. Of course, a suitable quantity
of boards and planks was immediately provided for the
occasion. Mr. Taber, whose skill as an artist in house
finish they had heard of, was waited on, and offered the
job on terms which he accepted. After viewing the
premises, he fook from his side pocket a rule, and com
menced measuring the inside of the church. This was
done with precision. He then walked out to the pile
of boards and plank, and continued to turn and over
turn them for some time, and then left.
The next morning he commenced fulfilling his job,
by dividing these boards and plank into pieces of dif
ferent length and breadth. This he continued to do,
with much earnestness and taciturnity, for several days.
The heaps of pieces from his saw were growing large.
The committee, with a scrutinizing eye, began to doubt
this stranger s knowledge in what they had employed
him to perform. They knew he had come from the
East, and not far from Salem, the region where witches
had been hung a few years before.
Their fears were aroused to a distressing point. In
stead of employing a man of approved knowledge, said
they, we are entrapped in the meshes of a knave or a
fool ; and they decided, in short order, to wait on and
request him to immediately desist proceeding in the
way he was going on, and had been for a week. With
great gravity, and countenances bespeaking inward un
pleasant commotions, they approached this man of rules,
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 145
squares, and compasses, who, at the time, was using his
saw with great skill and energy, and did not at all sus
pect their business. " We," said one of the men of
trust, " are fearful, Mr. Taber, that your mode of doing
our business is leading you and us into an unpleasant
difficulty. Many of those for whom we are acting be
lieve it reasonable to doubt that these numerous pieces
of lumber will ever find their place without much
waste and loss, which may fall upon your employers.
Had you not better commence and use what you have
already prepared, before you cut up, in these small
pieces, any more of this valuable stuff?" Taber heard
this short harangue very coolly, yet with some surprise.
He laid aside his saw, put his rule in his pocket, adjust
ed the collar of his shirt, and, with an eye that appeared
to look through his inquisitive employers, he observed,
" Gentlemen, I am a stranger in these parts, but I
have taken and entered on this contract. I feel bound
to repose every confidence in you. I had your word
that I should be treated as a man of integrity ; I gave
you mine. I shall fulfil every promise to you, life and
health permitting. I make no pretentious to anything
which I am not fully competent to perform. You, gen
tlemen, I believe, know more of your Bibles than you
do of building or finishing this house. You must now
leave it to me ; I think you will be satisfied when it is
done."
This committee was all attention to this firm address
of Mr. Taber. Their countenances showed their in
ward sensations to be far from pleasant. After a short
space of profound silence, they stepped aside to devise
13
146 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
<
means to extricate themselves from the awkward posi
tion which jealousy had led them into. In a moment
after, they again slowly advanced towards Mr. Taber,
who was standing in all the self-possession and dignity
of determined resolution, as master of his profession.
They each, with some emotion, extended their hands,
which, with becoming magnanimity, he received.
They observed, with apparent contrition, that they felt
confident that a man of his firmness and sense would
pardon this ill-timed visit, and also what had been said
to him. With other such like expressions of good-will,
they wished him to pursue the course suited to his
mind.
Mr. Taber, in the time agreed on, finished the inside
of the church with neat pews, which were occupied
until 1803, a term of over seventy years. Not a piece
of board or plank, it is said, in all that motley pile, but
what found its place to a precision, and to the satisfac
tion of the employers.
Some years after this, I believe about sixty, Mr.
Taber draughted and constructed a wind-mill on the
site where the one now stands in this village.
He had three children, viz : Patience, born 1742 ;
Amon, born 1745 ; and Frederick, born 1747. Patience
marrried Peter Griffin ; Amon married Sibil Terry ;
and Frederick married Esther Yail, who died in this
place in 1842, aged ninety-three years, outliving her
husband forty years.
Rev. Mr. Prime, in his History of Long Island, says
that the third church edifice in Southold, was built in
1711. It is probable that was the date, although some
believe it was raised some years earlier. He (Mr. P.)
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. H7
likewise observes that a committee was chosen that
same year, to have the house finished inside, by seats,
&c. Now, this is not correct, as it is a fact that a
Mr. Amon Taber was employed by a committee to fin
ish off said house, the lower part with pews, and the
upper story with a handsome gallery, about the year
1732.
All the aged men that lived fifty years ago, at that
time, seventy-five and eighty years old, often spoke of
Mr. Amon Taber s finishing off the meeting house at
Southold, and the curious circumstance of his com
mencement with the boards, &c. He was born in
1706 ; of course, in 1711, was but five years old, when
Mr. Prime says a committee was chosen to see to the
finishing of said house. He died in 1785 or 86, aged
seventy-eight years. His wife was Mary Brown, daugh
ter of Samuel Brown, who was, we believe, son of
Richard Brown, who died in 1686.
Frederick Taber, Jr., son of said Frederick, now liv
ing in this village, in his eighty-first year, married
Mary, daughter of Joseph Terry, Sr. He has four
children now living by this marriage, viz : Mary,
Henry T., Seth B., and Samuel B.
Silas Horton, of Southold, is the son of the late Col.
Benjamin Horton, who was the son of Barnabas Hor
ton, who was the son of James Horton, who was the
son of Jonathan Horton, who was the son of Barnabas
Horton, the first of the name and family to Southold.
Silas Horton has, with much respect, held the
office of sheriff of this county, and a member of the
148 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Assembly of this State. His affectionate wife, Mary,
is the daughter of the late Captain Elijah Landon, who
was the son of Judge Jared Landon, who was the son
of Judge Samuel Landon, who was the son of Nathan
Landon, who was the son of Nathan Landon, Sr., the
first of the name and family to this town.
Colonel Benjamin Horton was esteemed as an officer,
and as a valuable member of society, and a pillar of
the church, as was his worthy brother, Gilbert, who,
with much and deserved respect, held the rank of Ma
jor, and was a deacon of the church.
Joseph King, as a faithful, honest mechanic, was, by
the community at large, held in esteem. In his own
parish, and through the whole town, from the highest
to the lowest, from the small boy to the old man, he re
ceived the appellation of " Uncle Joe." " Yes," said
he one day, very good-naturedly, " the colored folks
call me c Uncle Joe. r Sterns pictures of his Uncle
Toby, I have often thought, were good likenesses of Mr.
King, especially when telling some extraordinary feat
of his youthful days. It was " Uncle Joe King," in
this community, from 1765 to 1818, at which date, he
closed a long and industrious life of eighty-eight years.
He was born in the year 1730. By trade, he was a
house carpenter ; a steady workman ; ingenious, but
not neat, as to finish. From his industrious habits, and
his readiness to do work requiring a knowledge of dif
ferent trades, he was not considered a finished work
man, yet he could, in short order, draught ingeniously,
calculate advantageously, and build ecomically, houses
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 149
barns, ploughs, harrows, ovens and chimneys. I, my
self, have seen ploughs of his build go from two to
eight rods without a person to hold or steady them.
In the memorable winter of 1740 and 41, when a
boy of about ten or eleven years of age, he assisted in
driving a drove of cattle from Easthampton to Gardin
er s Island, on the ice a thing, we presume, never done
before, and it is doubtful whether it will ever be again.
He said give him a quart bowl full of water, a good
sail needle, and a bottle cork, and, with these, put him
in a good vessel in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,
and he could navigate with success, providing the
weather was good.
Through a long and laborious pilgrimage, it could
not be said that he ever possessed the luxuries of life.
In his exterior, he was plain, rough, and far from pre
possessing. He stood over six feet, and a little stoop
ing raw-boned ; to strangers, rather forbidding. When
spoken to, his answers were quick and emphatic ; his
education was limited. A strong mind, with good
sense, rendered him agreeable much so to those fond
of well-timed anecdotes and a w^ell-told story. His
earnest manner in communicating, with a peculiar
countenance in reciting his feats of bygone days,
charmed and spell-bound his audience. His account of
killing five foxes, at one hunt, on Long Beach, and
bringing them all home to his domicil 011 his back at
once, was worth hearing, and always delighted his hear
ers. He married Hannah, the daughter of Zebulon
King, about the year 1753, and he reared a large and
likely family of sons and daughters, and sustained,
150 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
through a long life, the appellation of an honest man.
He was brother to Jeremiah King, the father of the
late Elisha W. King, Esq.
Mr. Thompson, in his History of Long Island, second
edition, gives us Elisha s ancestors thus, viz : Elisha s
father was Jeremiah, who was the son of William,
whose father was John, who came from Europe in 1654.
Now Joseph, Jeremiah s oldest brother, was born in
1T30. His father, "William, might, though it is not proba
ble, be forty years older than his son Joseph ; and
John, William s father, forty years older than William.
Now, Joseph, born in 1730, William in 1690, and John
in 1650, would make him only four years old when he
came to this country. If so, he must have been with
his father. Probably his name was John, who was
Elisha W. King s great-great-grandfather, the first of
his family to this New World. Agreeable to Mr.
Thompson s date, it must have been the first John s fa
ther who came here in 1654.
Abner King, a bachelor of much and respectful note,
in Oysterponds, from 1740 to 1780, was brother to Jo-
eph King s father ; notorious for his singularity,
shrewd observations, and witty salutations to those
whom he met in his daily walks. When over eighty
years of age, in 1775, he was proverbial for his wit, in
teresting anecdotes, short and pithy tales, interspersed
with peculiar gravity, and great good-nature, with a wink
and shrug of the shoulder. He was, at the time, de
pendent and poor, almost continually on the road
around the parish. In this place, all knew him and re
spected him, as a peaceable, worthy old gentleman.
His death took place about 1780.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 151
Abner King was brother to Elisha W. King s grand
father, William. Elisha, who was a lawyer of emin
ence in ]STew York, died in 1835, in his fifty-fifth year.
Captain Frederick King was born in 1771, and was
the fourth son of Jeremiah and Deborah King, of
Orient, New York. At the age of about twenty-four
years, he commanded a vessel to the West Indies. After
this voyage, he commanded, in the course of the next
twenty years, at different times, a number of ships,
with varied success.
He was a noble-looking man, and as to his athletic
powers, few of his contemporaries could compare with
him. From his twenty-fifth to his thirty-fifth year of
age, it was often said in the convivial circles of ship
masters in New York, that he was the handsomest sea
captain sailing from the city of New York. He died
suddenly, June 16, 1824, aged fifty-three years. He
was brother to the late Elisha W. King. Mrs. Cynthia
King, the Captain s widow, died September 23, 1849,
in her seventy-ninth year.
John King was the great-grandson of Ensign John
King, particularly noticed before. John, when at
school, even at six or seven years of age, was, from his
openness of manner, energy, and willingness to perform
every task assigned him, a favorite of his teacher,
and all who admire promise of merit in children whose
ready obedience warrants hope. He grew up, and con
tinued such through all the multiplicity of changes al
lotted him in his brief point of life. For more than
thirty years, he resided in New York, where fortune
favored him. In the year 1841, his health, which was
152 GfllF FIN S JOURNAL.
always delicate, began visibly to decline, and a voyage
to Europe was advised by his physician.
He, acceding to this advice, took his brother Foster
with him. They sailed for London, where after a
pleasant, and short voyage, they arrived safe.
After fifteen months travel, in the old world, he re
turned to the home of his fathers. The hopes of his
friends, with those of his dear and devoted mother,
a lonely widow, were now buoyant. But how frail is
the tenure on which hangs man s strongest expectations
1844 came, and with its fleeting course perceptible
and alarming symptoms to our friend. In the summer
of this year he stopped here a short time ; the place of
his youth. However, growing daily more weak, he
left soon for New York, where he again sailed and as it
proved, the last time, for Europe. His decline was
rapid. Among entire strangers, the most feeling atten
tion was accorded him by the American Consul and his
compassionate wife they attended his dying bed, and
feelingly fulfilled his last request, respecting his mourn
ing mother, and friends in America. He died and was
buried in Rome, where a handsome stone is placed to
mark the place where his remains repose. He was the
eldest son of the late Rufus, and Sally King. Rufus,
was the son of John King Jr., who was the son of John
King, Sr., (called Ensign) who was the son of Samuel
King, who was the son of John King, 1st., who came
to this place, from Plymouth, England.
Bethia Horton, who became the wife of Henry
Tuthill Sr., as before noticed, was great-great-grand
mother to Mrs. Anna Harrison, the widow of the late
President, William Henry Harrison.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 153
Isaac Overtoil, was distinguished for his great physi
cal strength ; he was much known in this county, and
through this then colony, from 1725 to 1744 at which
last date, his great-grandson, Mr. Jonathan Overton,
told me he died, aged near sixty years. As a man, he
was mild, well disposed, and respected. Very many
amusing stories of his feats of strength are told of him.
The following was told me by Jared Griffin, who had it
from his father, Samuel Griffin ; who was a neighbor
to Mr. Overton, and an eye witness to the fact.
The incident took place, at the house of Mr. Robert
Griffin, who at the time, 1725, kept an Inn at Southold.
At, or near the date noticed, an athletic bully or boxer,
as he styled himself, came to Boston, from England.
He gave out that he had never met his equal for
strength ; or one that he could not easily whip. Hear
ing of Overton s powers, he immediately repaired to
Southold, to show Overton a " thing or two," as he said
on arriving at Mr. Griffin s. After partaking of refresh
ments, he requested Mr. G. to send his boy after Mr.
Overton; Mr. G. did so, but told the stranger that
Overton was of retiring habits and rather bashful ;
and would not notice nor pay any attention to testing
his strength in wrestling, or other sports, which he
viewed degrading. Not knowing for what intent he
was sent for, Mr. Overton came with the boy. On being
introduced to the stranger, and learning his errand, he
utterly refused to have anything to do with him. Mr.
Overton, the stranger soon learned, was fond of flip, a
beverage in those days made of beer, spirits, and sugar.
He was liberally supplied with this stimulus, yet not
till a blow with the flat of the hand from the stranger
154 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
could he be aroused to defend himself. Then, with the
quickness of thought, he seized the bully by the seat of
his trowsers, and the collar of his coat, with his arms at
full length, he held him as high as his chin, then walked
around the room, crying at the top of his voice, " Mr.
Griffin, what shall I do with him? Mr. Griffin, what
shall I do with him ?" And amidst the contortions, and
writhings of the stranger, who was held as in a vice,
and the roars of laughter of those present, let him fall
heavily upon the floor. The stranger did not trouble
Mr. Overtoil again. On another occasion, he lifted
and put on a wheel ol a loaded cart, which wheel had
come off by reason of the loss of a linch pin. He also
shouldered a cannon in New York, which four men
ordinarily could not as easily handle. There is not
any doubt, but Isaac Overton, was one of the most
powerful men, as to the bodily strength, this country
has ever known.
On the afternoon of the 24th December, 1811, the
wind was light, from the west ; at 11 o clock P. M. very
moderate and cloudy ;" gentle breeze of wind S. E. I
was a passenger on board the sloop Roman, Jonathan
Terry Jr., Master. We were bound to Oysterpond,
having left New York on the 23d. About 5 P. M., we
past Falkin s Island ; where we met two sloops on their
course for New York. Their captains were Davis
Conklin, of Amagansit; and Wells, of Cutchogue,
Southold. We arrived in Oysterpond harbour about
11 o clock, P. M. and landed at 12, midnight. At
the time nearly calm, with a little sprinkle of rain.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 155
In one hour after, it commenced, almost instantaneous
ly, blowing a gale, with snow and the most intense
cold. A more violent and destructive storm has not
been known for the last hundred years. And I doubt
whether this country ever experienced one so fatal to
man and beast. Many young cattle in this place froze
to death in the field ; one man lost seven. Those two
vessels we met, the afternoon before, were cast away.
Capt. Wells, with his entire crew, and passengers, and
the vessel, were all lost. Capt. Conklin, himself and
three passengers, perished. Two of his crew were
saved. His vessel was new, and was saved but cast on
shore. Messrs. Samuel Davids & Samuel Payne, store
keepers in Cutchogue, were lost. Jonas Wicks, of
Southold, an active useful man, who was on board, left
a family, as did Davids and Payne. David s body, was
the only one ever found.
On the morning of the 26th, the Roman was found
wrecked on Long Beach, and my entire freight of goods,
which water would destroy, were lost ; and tne others
much injured.
The friendship of some people, (may I not say many,)
is like our shadows, plain and close to us when the
sun shines clear ; but the moment we get into the shade
it deserts us. So in the bright sun of Prosperity we
are surrounded with friends, and inundated with civili
ties, but let a cloud of misfortune and adversity over
shadow us, and where are they !
On the day, previous to my father s miraculous
escape, by jumping from a chamber window, three
156 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
counterfeit deserters were despatched from the English
encampment, at Oysterpond Point, to the houses of
James Griffin, Lester Beebe, and Stephen Tail. The
first with much persuasion, moved Mr. Yail to take him
in. The second, Capt. Beebe admitted into his barn.
The third deceived his wicked superiors, and ranaway
in earnest this one was directed to go to my father s.
At midnight, two files of soldiers, were sent to re
take these pretended deserters, and the men, who had
harbored them. One file of men went immediately to
Yail s, and Beebe s, where they found their two com
rades, after which they bound Messrs. Yail and Beebe,
by tying their hands behind them. When Mr. Yail,
who was a mild, compassionate man, gave them a gentle
rebuke, by reason of their unnecessary oaths and blas
phemous threats, one of them gave him a severe blow
with a broad sword. After thus securing these two in
offensive men, they, in searching the chambers, found
an infirm old gentleman in bed aged and trembling,
on the ve*rge of seventy-five years. With heartless
threats, they ordered him out. This man, was Stephen
Yail, Sr., on a visit to his son, and was detained by the
severe storm, then raging, from returning to his home.
This old man, with the son, and Capt. Beebe, they
drove like cattle, before them to the Point. Next day
they were conveyed to Riverhead. A choice was then
given them for thirty days imprisoment, and five-hun
dred lashes, or 70 in money and their liberty.
Mr. Stephen Yail and Capt. Lester Beebe were men of
middle age, with some property, and young families.
They, with some assistance, soon raised the money for
their freedom. But the elder Mr. Yail was poor, and
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 157
had no means to pay the unjust demand ! Subsequently
a few of his friends went through the town for aid, and
the sum was raised, and the old man was rescued after
several weeks imprisonment. Stephen Yail Jr., died in
1806.
This is but one of the many stratagems and hard
ships which was imposed upon the unoffending inhabi
tants of Southold. Of British cruelty, meaness, and
rascality, a volume might be written. We have no
doubt they were often persuaded to this wretched,
cruel work, by the hardened, heartless Tories, who Cain-
like, were seeking their innocent brother s blood.
About this same time, there was a Mr. Jonathan
Ilowel, a peaceable farmer, residing in the neighbor
hood of Mattituck. He being a staunch friend to
American liberty, had unguardedly spoken a word
against the proceedings at Oysterpond. They heard of
his just remarks sent a guard of soldiers, took and
bound him to a tree, and with the hearts of Demons,
gave him between three and four hundred lashes on his
naked back. He hardly survived this awful scourge.
His friends offered three hundred dollars to save him
from this calamity. Whatever and however may be
our bed, that of our father s in 1778 was certainly not
one of roses.
Lester Beebe, one of the subjects above noticed, was
a man of strict moral deportment. He married Bethia,
the youngest daughter of Benjamin Brown, Esq., of
Oysterpond.
14
158 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
After the war of the Revolution, Beebe went a
number of voyages to foreign ports as Captain, with
much credit to himself, and to his owners. When he
retired from sea life he became a partner with Mr.
Henry Ekford, in ship building. They were conspicu
ously known as the first in that art. Ekford, it is prob
able, had not his superior in this or any other country.
After they dissolved partnership, Capt. Eeebe bought
a fine place at Flushing, where he lived some years.
After this, he sold and purchased at Sag Harbor, from
which place he had removed some twenty years before.
By his excellent wife he had several children ; all of
whom, but one son, died before their parents. Mrs.
Beebe died some years before his death, which took
place at Sag Harbor.
Jonathan Youngs, Jr., heretofore noticed, was mar
ried to Miss Martha Booth in the summer of 1733. She
resided at what was then called Sterling, now Green-
port. The groom s and bride s parents, being pleased
with the match, a large assemblage of both sexes were
in attendance. On the following day, the father of the
groom gave a sumptuous wedding supper, at which
were invited, and attended, the friends of both. Those
of the bride s family were twenty couple (some say
thirty), mounted on horseback, the fashion of the day
wagons and gigs were then unknown in this region
made an interesting spectacle, as they rode the distance
of about five miles to Oysterponds to the house of the
groom s father. Each lady was seated on the same
horse with her partner on a well-made pillion, proper-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 159
ly secured to the saddle, with one neat wood stirrup,
which was necessary for one foot. The horses of that
day were taught to pace, as trotting ones were ungen-
teel, as well as unpleasant to the rider. After the nu
merous guests had partaken bountifully of the luxuries
of the board and, from accounts, there was enough,
and to spare (dishes, in this New World were less
costly than now, it is true, but their contents were not
less useful, savory, or abundant ; the larder of modern
days may be more replete with exotics, but never more
truly rich than that of the rustic age of which we now
write ; " a good liver " then would lose nothing in com
parison with " a good liver " now.) But to return ; as
we said, after supper, being in a mood for social enjoy
ment, the violin (not the piano, nor band), but the violin,
sounded for a dance. The largest room in the house of
Mr. Youngs could not accommodate them, and it was
unanimously voted that the lawn in front of the dwell
ing, which was richly carpeted by Nature s green,
should be the scene of their amusement. Thither they
repaired. Twas an enchanting season and spot ; the
winds were hushed to a calm ; the moon near its full, with
thousands of stars, shone from a cloudless sky upon the
happy company, and there, in festive merriment and ani
mated intercourse, they mingled and talked, laughed and
made merry, more than forty couples of the women
and men of other days. Guilderoy, Money Musk,
Nancy Dawson, Hunt the Squirrel, and the Devil s
Dream, were strains of impassioned sweetness to them,
and these had not then given place to the formal, and
perhaps more graceful, ballet and cotillion.
At this time, Gideon Youngs, Jr., had six sons, all
160 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
men of noble stature, whose names were Gideon, Wal
ter, Silas, Reuben, Abimel, and Henry. These, at that
time, young men, were cousins to the bridegroom, and
we suppose they all attended this imposing wedding.
It was .about this time, or near it, that four of these
brothers left Oysterponds for Goshen, in Orange
county, where they located for the remainder of their
days. To this county, at that day, it was considered a
journey of some length of time. Turnpikes, railroads
and steamboats were then unknown and unthouglit of.
These four brothers were Reuben, Silas, Abimel and
Henry. The house in which this supper was given is
still standing in what is now Orient, near the wharf;
likewise that of the bride s father, in Greenport. These
are " relics of times past," and admonish us to wisely
husband the present, for the future is not ours ; and
were it, it would come to us laden with inconstancy and
change.
Henry Youngs, now a member of one of the Vestry
of Trinity Church, New York, is a great-grandson of
the Henry above-mentioned. This first Henry, who
was one of the four brothers, died in 1767 ; Abimel,
about the close of the Revolutionary War ; Silas and
Reuben, near 1800.
On the 23d September, 1815, was one of the severest
easterly storms of rain and wind that has been known
for the last fifty years or more. At about 11 o clock, A.
M., the wind blew so violently that houses were unroof
ed, barns blown down, and trees torn up by their roots.
The tide rose in our (Orient) harbor to an alarming
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 161
height. A family from one of the houses near the
wharf, stepped into a boat and came up the road, and
landed near my house, more than twenty rods beyond
where the sea had ever been known to flow before.
It was assuredly a distressed, tremendous, as well as
a destructive gale. Several vessels were lost and sunk
in the Sound that night, and, in some instances, every
soul on board perished !
In the summer of 1716, we had a frost in every one
of the summer months; the one in June destroyed
about all the corn in Orient.
The following persons were residents of or near Oys-
terponds, where they or their parents were born and
died. Those with a star, thus,* were the descendants
of John Tuthill, one of the first settlers of Southold
and Orient, New York. They were all ninety or more
years of age at the time of their deaths :
1. *John Tuthill, 3d, died in 1754, in his 97th year.
2. Jonathan Youngs, died in 1777, in his 93d year.
3. Hannah Baxter, died in 1511, in her 98th year.
4. Elizabeth Glover, died in 1803, in her 94th year.
5. Lydia King (daughter of Mrs. Glover), died in
1828, in her 95th year.
6. *Ruth Yail, died in 1836, aged 92 years.
7. Abigail King, died in 1847, in her 92d year.
8. Esther Taber, died in 1843, in her 94th year.
9. *Phoebe King, died in 1848, in her 93d year.
10. Genny Moore (colored), died in 1852, in her 97th
year.
14*
162 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
11. Mary Taber, died in 1800, in her 92d year.
12. *Rufus Tuthill, died in 1843, aged 97 years.
13. Nathaniel King, died iq. 1822, in his 92d year.
14. David Weldon, died in 1834, in his 96th year.
15. Noah Racket, died in 1849, aged 92 years.
16. ^Elizabeth Howel, died in 1841, aged 90 years.
17. Isaiah Brown, died in 1814, aged 90 years.
18. Joseph Youngs, died in 1816, in his 96th year.
19. ^Dorothy Watkins, died in 1851, in her 95th
year.
20. ^Anna Steward, died in 1853 r in her 95th year.
21. *Kuth Coleman, died in March, 1854, aged 90
years. She was the grand-daughter of James Tuthill,
who settled in Orange county, New York, in 1T48 or 49.
22. ^Hannah Howel, died in 1855, in her 93d year.
23. ^Phoebe Glover, died in 1855, in her 91st year.
24. *Silas Beebe, died in 1854, in his 93d year.
In and near the village of Southold, of which they
were all residents, the following persons died since
about the year 1800 :
1. Alsop Paine, died in his 98th year.
2. John Drake, about 95 years old.
3. Mrs. Drake (his wife), over 90 years.
4. Lieut. Moses Case, in his 92d.year ; died in 1814.
5. Gershom Case, over 90 years.
6. Mary Goldsmith Vail, died 1853, 90 years old.
7. Anna Booth, is now in her 91st year.
8. Josiah Woodhull, died over 90 years old.
9. ^Deborah Tuthill Goldsmith, died in her 98th
year.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 163
10. *Mary Horton, died in her 97th year.
11. Peg Cory (colored), died in about her 97th year.
12. James Hallock, Esq., died in his 93d year.
13. Daniel Hallock, died in his 91st year.
14. John Hallock, a native of Southold, died in Or
ange county, in his 94th year.
15. John Clark, died in 1855, in his 93d year.
16. Mrs. Case (wife of Gershom Case), over 90 years.
Here we have the names of thirty-seven persons, na
tives of Southold, who lived to the age of ninety years
many of them over. Of this number, thirteen were
of the family of the first John Tuthill.
Henry Tuthill, the third child of John Tuthill Jr.,
had a son, Henry, and who died in the year 1775, aged
about eighty-five years. He was twice married first,
to a daughter of Samuel Beebe, of Plumb Island. By
her he had one son, Henry, who settled at Acquebogue,
where he died, not far from -1795 or 96. This last
Henry was grandfather to Mrs. Anna Harrison, widow
of the late William Henry Harrison, who died Presi
dent of these United States. His second wife Was, we
believe, a Miss Laiidon, by whom, as before observed,
he had four sons and three daughters, viz : 1st, Azariah,
who became a Deacon of the church in Oysterponds,
for many years. He died in 1806, over eighty years old ;
2d, Barnabas, a Major in the war of the Revolution, who
died about 1781 ; 3d, ^Nathaniel, who was drowned ; 4th,
Christopher, died in 1798, seventy-three years old ; 5th,
Zipporah, who died 1799, sixty-seven years of age ; 6th,
Phebe, who died the wife of Major Isaac Reeve ; 7th,
Bethia, who married Mi .cah Horton.
Neither from tradition or otherwise have we been
164 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
able to ascertain the particular place in England where
John Tuthill Sr., was born, or where he emigrated from,
or the branch of the Tuthills from which he descended.
In England there are several different branches of the
family ; one in Devonshire, one in Buchinghamshire,
and another in Norfolkshire, and in each the coat-of-
arms and crest vary somewhat. The Hon. Judge Wm.
H. Tuthill, of Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa, is of the
opinion that he was from the last named. The Judge
has the pedigree and coat-of-arms of that particular
branch from the college of Heralds, in London. Some
of the decendants of the Norfolk family, came to that
city in the 17th century and altered the spelling of the
name to Tothill. One of them, William Tothill, Esq.,
was a Judge of the Court of King s Bench, and was a
man of much repute ; and Sir George Tuthill of Lon
don, in the early part of the present century, stated to
Cornelius Tuthill of New Burgh, that he was a decen-
dant of that family.
William H. Tuthill above mentioned, is the son of
James Tuthill, who is the son of Daniel Tuthill, late of
Jamaica, Queens county, who was the son of Daniel
Tuthill, Sr., of that town, who was the son of Joshua
Tuthill, Jr., who was the son of Joshua Tuthill, Sr., who
was the second son of the said John Tuthill, Sr.
On Friday, 14th October, 1842, at twenty-five minutes
past seven o clock in the morning, our oldest daughter,
Harriet Lucretia, the wife of Abner Wells, departed
this life, after a distressing illness of three weeks.
The following lines we found in her diary ; written a
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 165
few days before her last sickness. They show her
mind ; although they may not be of her composition.
Fly swift ye moments, fly, fly !
I thirst, I pant, I long to try
Angelic joys to prove
Soon I shall quit this House of clay ;
Spread my glad wings and soar away,
And shout Redeeming love.
It will ever be found a difficult task to write or speak
judiciously of the living. In life, we know, man tar
nishes his name and brightens it again. The worship
ed of to-day, is the dishonored of to-morro w. There
are many ways by which humanity may discover its
imperfections and show its utter unworthiness, and
perhaps it were always well to cease entirely from the
praise of man, " whose breath is in his nostrils." Now
whether there be wisdom or folly in these reflections,
or whether their truth applies more to the conduct or
character of the immortal mind, yet I feel constrained,
from a sense of duty, to let not the occasion pass in
this manner, as it is the last I shall ever have, without
offering my feeble tribute of respect and esteem, to the
rare genius and talents of my fellow townsman, John
O. Terry. I acknowledge myself of those who ad
mire genius where ever found tempered with virtue,-
I believe it is of the Deity, incarnate. Mr. Terry is
the seventh generation from Richard Terry, who with
his family, made one of the original thirteen families,
and is the oldest child of the late Joseph Terry, Esq.,
who for many years held the offices of Justice of the
Peace, and Postmaster, in this village. Joseph, in life
was much and justly respected, and in his death
166 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
greatly lamented. He died in 1851, in his eighty-sixth
year. Mr. John O. Terry is a strong and eloquent
writer no one can read any emanation from his pen,
without being reminded of his power and original sen
timent. We have seen no production of his, and we
know it is saying much, which dying he " might wish
to blot." Of his verse, whether song, satire, moral,
sentimental, descriptive, characteristic, or miscellane
ous, it may be truly said, li it is poetry but no fiction."
Had Burns, Dry den, or Byron, have written much that
he has written, we should have heard it cited from a
thousand tongues ; seen it quoted through the length
and breadth of the land, and canonized " immortal
song." So much, alas ! has the accident of birth or
position in society to do with the creation of worldly
fame. It would be a pleasing work to insert here
pages from his pen, but it might be considered out of
place, since all who have not, may have the pleasure of
reading for themselves from the text and when they
shall have done so, we fear not that they will pronounce
these lines overwrought "The Death of a favorite
Mare ;" " An elegy on my Dog Toby ;" would do
honor to any poet. Where is keener satire than we
find in the "Hypocrite s selfishness," backbiter, and office
seeker ? The " cultivated mind and virtuous old age,"
may be considered an oasis in the cold, desert, down hill
of life. And who lives and loves his native language,
or muse that fails to recognize the masterly purity of
mind, depth of thought, and beauty unadorned por
trayed in My Childhood s Heaven ;" " This World is
not a wilderness;" " Reply to William ;" " And Elegy
on the Death of Mr. Rogers ;" Born, bred, now living
GEIFFIN S JOURNAL. 167
in healthy single blessedness, and we presume hoping
to expire in his dear delightful Orient, self educated,
indebted to no school or university for his accomplished
acquirements in knowledge or superior intellectual
faculties, we witness in this humble, unknown Philoso
pher and Poet, a striking and melancholy illustration of
the saying that the world knows nothing of its greatest
minds. " There are forms of greatness and of excel
lence, which live and die and make no sign." There
are Martyrs that miss the palm but not the stake
" Heroes without the laurel, and conquerors without
the triumph."
Ithuel Hill, of Sag Harbor, died at Tarpaulin Cove
in 1821. Mr. Hill, being in poor health, had taken
passage in a vessel bound to the East. While stopping
for a night at the Cove, he was taken more ill, and died
suddenly. He was, at all times, and on every occasion,
an obliging man. He was a stone-cutter and engraver,
and in that art, few went before him. He was archi
tect and builder of the monuments, over the remains of
Ezra Lhommedieu, Thomas S. Lester, and John Gardi
ner, of Gardner s Island. Under his superintendence,
the bones of Brindly Sylvester, Esq., and his wife ; Tho
mas Dering, Esq., and his wife, all of Shelter Island,
were taken up, and removed to the cemetery at the
meeting house. The two former of these had lain in
their graves more than seventy-five years. They were
carefully re-interred, and the tables of stone neatly
placed over them as before. Mr. Hill put up the first
gravestone in Orient graveyard, near the meeting
house, in 1790.
168 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Daniel Griffin, second son of Samuel Griffin, had
nine children, whose names were :
1. Lydia, born August 9, 1T59.
2. Sarah, born December 25, 1760.
3. David, born December 23, 1763.
4. Daniel, born February 5, 1766.
5. Martha, born July 8, 1768.
6. Micah, born January 1, 1771.
7. Kobert, born August 20, 1773.
8. Parnol, born November 6, 1776.
9. Samuel, born September, 1779.
David, the third child, was a soldier of the Revolu
tion. After peace took place, he commanded several
merchant vessels in the foreign trade. Some years af
ter he had quit the seas, in about 1830, he joined the
Methodists, and became a respectable member of that
church. On November 16, 1844, he died in sound
faith of a glorious immortality, aged eighty-one years.
Peter Griffin, fourth son of Samuel Griffin, was born
September 2, 1742, and died in 1781 or 82, on board of
the British prison ship at "VYaliabout, Brooklyn. His
wife was Patience, the daughter of Amon and Mary
Taber, of Oysterponds. Their children were :
1. Betsy, born 1764; died 1843.
2. Polly, born 1766 ; died about 1814.
3. *Peter, born 1768 ; died at sea.
4. Samuel, born 1770 ; and died 1775.
5. Joshua, born 1772 ; died 1842.
6. Patience, born 1774.
7. Amon Taber, born 1776 ; died 1819.
* Was captain of a fin- vessel ; a man much and justly respected. He
died at sea, in 1800.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 169
Patience, the wife of Peter Griffin, survived him
some years. In 1789, or near that date, she was mar
ried to a Mr. Wells, of Khode Island, an elderly man,
and a Sabbatarian Baptist. She died about 1802.
Betsey, his first child, was married to a Mr. Amos
Wells, of Rhode Island, a Baptist clergyman, of good
common English education. He died some years be
fore the death of his wife. She died not far from 1844.
about eighty or more years of age.
Moses, Samuel Griffin s ninth child, at the age of
about twenty-four, married a woman of or near Egg
Harbor, New Jersey. His children were :
1. Experience, born about 17YO.
2. Betsey, 1772.
3. Roxanna, " 1774
4. Moses, " 1776.
5. Carson, < 1778.
6. Samuel, " 1780.
7. Angelina, " 1781.
This last lady has now a married daughter residing
at Jamaica, Long Island.
Moses, fourth child, commanded several fine ships
from Philadelphia, As a captain, he was greatly re
spected. In a voyage to Calcutta, some time before
his death, the passengers and company in the ship were
so pleased with his attention that they presented him,
in the politest feeling, a service of silver. He died
somewhere near 1838.
David R. Arnol, M. D., of Orange county, New
15
170 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
York, was born May 18, 1775, and died September 2,
1826.
Our first acquaintance, in 1792, was interesting and
pleasant. The impressions of that early interview will
only cease in the dampning shades of death. He was
then seventeen years of age, a promising youth, and was
studying physic with Dr. Jonathan Sweezy, of Goshen.
At the age of about twenty, our friend commenced
the practice of his profession at Deer Park, a town ten
or twelve miles north of Goshen. His mild and pleas
ing address, with industrious habits, soon procured him
the good-will and consideration of the entire inhabi
tants of the town. His talents, skill, and judgment,
soon procured him a sterling reputation.
Died, in February, 1843, at Riverhead, Suffolk
county, Joseph Griffin, aged eighty-eight years. He
was the fifth son and eleventh child of John Griffin,
Jr. At the age of twenty-four years, he married a
Miss Ruth Hart, an amiable woman, with whom he
lived fifty years. Near the close of the Revolution,
he, with his family a wife and one child moved into
the village of Southold, where his stay was but for a
year or two. In 1784, he removed to Old Guilford. in
Connecticut, where he soon took charge of a coasting
vessel. He was an active, trustworthy man ; unbound
ed confidence was accorded him by all with whom he
was called to have intercourse. At the age of seventy,
he quit doing business on the water, and was soon ap
pointed to take charge of the lighthouse on Faulken s
Island, situated in the Sound, about five miles from
Guilford.
GUI FFIN S_ JOURNAL. 171
Captain Griffin had the charge of this trust some ten
years. In all this time he was much known by numer
ous persons of both sexes, who, in summer, visited the
island as a curiosity, and for a sail, and to enjoy the luxury
of fishing, and partaking of the fish when caught. At the
age of about eighty-three years, he lost his wife. All
his children, except a daughter, were now dead. This
daughter was now married, and settled in New Jersey.
The generation with which he had been associated had
nearly passed away. He resolved on returning to the
home of his fathers and his youth. On the 23d of
April, 1839, he took his final farewell of Guilford, and,
in the evening of that day, arrived at Orient, where he
spent the night with the writer. On the 24th, he re
paired to Riverhead, from which he had been absent as
a resident for more than fifty years. He was a man of
graceful manner, of the old school ; of agreeable, social
habits, and an unshaken faith in Gospel truths. He
had been one of the most active, powerful and supplest
of men. He stood more than six feet ; was well pro
portioned, and had the strength of two stout men. We
have seen him leap over a rope six feet two inches
high.
On Saturday, 23d July, 1853, while on a short visit
to Acquebogue, I called on Judge John Woodhull, and
was received with much kindness and satisfaction. He
observed that it was many years since he had been at
Oysterponds and at my house, and added, with a mel
ancholy dignity, that, although deep in the vale of life,
his appetite was good, and he rested and slept well.
4 1 was," said he, u born on the 7th day of January, in
172 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
the year 1755, and was ninety-eight years old on the
7th of last January" (1853). He had been a Judge of
the County Court, and several times Supervisor of the
town of Riverhead. Judge Woodhull died March 21,
1855, aged one hundred years two months and fourteen
days.
Departed this life, on the morning of the 23d April,
1844, Rufus Tuthill, aged sixty-seven years. A more
dutiful, obedient son or child is seldom known. His
unwearied attentions to promote the comfort of his aged
parents, was almost without a parallel. It merits the
fairest page in the records of affectionate, devoted sons.
When his venerable father was over ninety-five years
of age, this son s comfort appeared to be to find means
and methods to console, solace and mitigate the pains
and unpleasant sensations allied to old age.
He held the commission, at one time, of captain of
the militia. As a farmer and member of the commu
nity, he was " greatly beloved." He was the sixth ge
neration from the first John Tuthill who landed at
Southold.
His wife, who survived him about five years, was the
sister of this writer. She died as she lived, in the faith
of a blessed immortality, on the 7th December, 1849.
In speaking of excellent sons, we are forcibly re
minded of that pattern of divine sons in Holy Writ,
Joseph, the son of Jacob.
What an interesting spectacle ! How sublime in all
its bearings, is that of Joseph witli his venerable fa
ther in the magnificent palace of the King of Egypt.
Joseph was Prime Minister and Governor of the Em-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 173
pire clothed with all the honors of Pharaoh s court ;
but we see his happiness, his glory, in introducing a
care-worn, aged father to his monarch. In imagina
tion, we now see the old father of one hundred and
thirty years feebly walking into the King s court, lean
ing on the arm. and resting on the bosom of an affec
tionate and dutiful son. The lustre of the golden pre
cious chain which then encircled his manly neck was
dim in comparison to that virtuous deed ! The gilded
chariot of state in which he rode in imperial pomp,
w r as low, compared with the eminence he gained when
standing before royal Pharaoh with the good old patri
arch, his father, by his side.
What an example to modern sons and daughters.
Yet, where are those endearing, Heavenly qualities
which marked the worth and truly Divine reverence,
love, and disinterested respect of those children of for
mer days, those whose blessings will be to rise up and
call their parents blessetl. Parental love ! Is it not a
spark from the celestial fire of Paradise ? a taper of
light, peace, and joy, which is enshrined here, arid will
improve and grow brighter through eternity ?
In March, 1821, I received the melancholy news of
the death of my valued friend, Silas Vail. "With this
dear man, I had held an interesting correspondence for
more than thirty years. A large package of his letters
to me are now in the hands of his son, the Rev. Frank
lin Y. Yail. They are well conceived, and show a mind
ot moral rectitude, noble endowments, and sound know-
15*
174 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
ledge of human nature. In them is pictured the
sweets of morality, and warm desires for that holiness
of heart which constitutes the faithful believer in the
sublime truths of the everlasting Gospel. For the last
thirty years, he had been a constant reader of theologi
cal works ; the Bible was to him the book of books.
He often observed that his daily prayer was that its
precepts and beauties might be more plain to his un
derstanding. Truth was his anxious pursuit.
For many years previous to his marriage, his busi
ness was that of a teacher. The duties of that profes
sion he fulfilled with credit to himself and satisfaction
to his employers.
In the War of the Revolution, when about iifteei.
years of age, he was taken prisoner, and confined some
time in the Old Jail, in New York, kept on short allow
ance, and otherwise hardly dealt with. That calamity,
with a severe attack of illness, gave his constitution a
shock from which it never fully recovered. About the
year 1794, he married Betsey, the fourth daughter of
Judge Thomas Youngs, of Southold.* By this lady,
he had two children, a daughter and son. Some time
after his marriage, he removed his family to Palmer
Town, near Saratoga. In this place he opened a store,
in connection with Dr. Gamaliel Yail. His spirits were
buoyant with hopes now of doing a profitable and
pleasant business. But the bubbles soon broke. They
were not agreed : a divided house will fall.
From this misfortune, Mr. Yail never recovered. Do
mestic disquiet came next, which, with a shattered con-
* Rev. Zachariah Green, now living at Hempstead, N. Y.,in hisninety-
venth year, was the minister to tie the sacred knot
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 175
stitiition, rendered his remaining days far from tran
quil. Yet, in the midst of all these complicated diffi
culties, he ever strictly made the subject of undefiled
religion his constant and choicest study, anjd the basis
of his support.
He died in February, 1821 ; born in 1757. Was the
second son of Peter Tail, who was the son of Jeremiah
Tail, 3d, who, we believe, was the son of Jeremiah
Yail, 2d, whose father, Jeremiah Tail, 1st, came to
Oysterpoiids about 1650.
Jeremiah Yail, 3d, sons were, viz : ^Stepllen, Peter,
Jeremiah, Thomas, Abraham, Joshua and David ;
daughters were Mehitable and Mary. Mehitable
married Joseph Brown, by whom she had nineteen
children. Mary married Thomas Moore, of this town,
grandfather of Charles B. Moore, Esq., of New York
city ; a gentleman of deserved respectability, and an
able jurist.
From motives of friendship, I here insert a sketch of
the family of Frederick Chase, Esq., of Shelter Island.
With this gentleman, I have been intimate, and on the
most friendly terms, for the last forty years an un
broken interchange of civilities and good-will since
1811. God grant that it may be like Mrs. Elizabeth
Howe s friendships, which, she said, is began in time,
solely for a progress round eternity !
Frederick Chase was born at Westerly, State of
Rhode Island, February 5, 1784. His father, Frederick
Chase, Sr., was born February 2, 1758, and died on
March 7, 1808 ; and his wife, who was Ruth Fry, died
176 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
May 29, 1839. Oliver Chase, grandfather of Frede
rick Chase, Esq., was born September 21, 1709, and
died November 14, 1784 ; and his wife, Elizabeth, died
March 10, 1793, aged eighty-four years.
Benjamin Chase, great-grandfather of our friend, F.
Chase, Esq., was born in Bristol county, Massachusetts,
July 15, 1682, and died about 1767, aged eighty-live
years.
William Chase, great-great-grandfather of Mr. Chase,
was born in England, and came to this country in 1629.
Settled at Yarmouth just nine years after the landing
of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. Yarmouth is in Massa
chusetts, in the county of Barnstable.
Frederick Chase married Rebecca 0. Cartwright, of
Rhode Island, February 5, 1807. He removed to Shel
ter Island in April, 1811. While a resident of Rhode
Island, he filled the ranks, by commission, of ensign,
lieutenant and captain. Since an inhabitant of Suffolk
county, he has held the offices of Justice of the Peace,
Supervisor, Town Clerk, Commissioner of Schools, and
Overseer of the Poor all without a stain.
The following acrostic I received from Mr. Chase. It
is accepted as a token of respect :
As all thy days, I trust, have been
Useful and just, to truth and men
Go on in the same path, dear friend,
Until thy life shall have an end ;
So when thy sands shall all have run,
Thou shalt have every work well done
Upon that all-important day,
Salvation sViall thy work repay.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 177
Great, then, indeed, is the reward
Received by those who serve the Lord ;
It them assures that they shall stand,
From sin set free, at His right hand !
Far from all sorrow, pain, and woe
In which they lived while here below
Nor shall a tear be seen that day !
God s own right hand wipes them away !
April, 1856. FREDERICK CHASE.
To the Rev. Francis C. Hill, we are indebted for the
melancholy detail of a mortal sickness which pre
vailed at Orient in the autumn of 1849. Mr. Hill was,
at the time, residing in Orient, with his interesting fa
mily of a wife and two daughters, of four and six years
old. The youngest, Anna Landon, fell a victim to the
dire calamity.
This calamity occurred during the latter part of Au
gust, all September, and much of October, in the year
that the cholera visited these shores the second time,
carrying its ravages over the almost entire extent of our
country. Such were its influences, especially in all our
large cities bordering upon the sea coast, as to deter
intercourse between this place and New York and
other cities. From early in July until as late as the
middle of September, our almost entire fleet of vessels,
say from sixteen to twenty, was laid up. It was hoped
by all that our healthy village, at such a remote dis
tance from any city, would escape. In this, we were
disappointed. However, the disease that visited our
village was not the cholera. It was dysentery of a
very malignant type, combining many of the alarming
symptoms of the former disease. Our physicians call-
178 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
ed it the cholera dysentery. For some time previous,
an extensive drought had been experienced ; for a num
ber of weeks we had no cooling showers, no thunder
or lightning. The earth became excessively dry and
parched. About the middle of August, a number of
cases occurred, but so mild as not to give alarm. It
commenced amongst the children, varying in age from
six months to thirteen years, and such was its progress
(for it was not confined to the young, but seized upon
the middle-aged and the aged) that, in the short space
of two weeks, perhaps not less than sixty cases were
reported in a distance of but little over a half mile.
In the street leading from the main road to the wharf,
seldom a house escaped, and, in some families, one half
were prostrated ; in others, four out of five were seized.
There was not enough well persons to care for and
nurse the sick ; while many that did escape were
afraid, and kept themselves aloof. Its effects were in
what is called the Lane, which, as aforesaid, leads from
the main road to the wharf, about twelve rods. Some
times two of the dead were interred at the same time.
Within one hundred rods of our dwelling, there were
twelve deaths ; and there was scarcely a house in the
whole street but one or more of its inmates were re
moved by death. It seemed as if the once beautiful
village of Orient had become a complete Golgotha. A
little incident occurred at the time, which may illus
trate the aspect here at that time. An excursion party,
on board of the steamboat Statesman, from Sag Har
bor, touched at the wharf ; a large company of men,
women and children landed, and commenced to stroll
up through the village. Not meeting with scarce an
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 179
individual (for it had the stillness of a continual Sab
bath), they had proceeded quite a distance from the
boat, when meeting some individual who informed them
of the state of the mortality existing among us, they
seemed panic-struck, and they immediately left the
place, with alarm depicted on every face. At that
time, many in the street were sick, numbers dying ;
while, in one house, were two dead bodies. Those that
fell victims were from three or four to near eighty
years of age. In a district of our village, about one-
fourth of a mile square, thirty died in the short space
of two months.
We find that a recurrence to these scenes stir up feel
ings that time has partially obliterated ; yet, those days
of mourning are deeply engraven on the hearts of the
sensitive, bereaved father, mother, and friend.
My frie:id, the Rev. Mr. Hill, in an acceptable com
munication to me, of October, 1S55, says that his own
immediate connection with, and sufferings from the
disease that prevailed in that eventual day, makes it, to
himself, a sorrowful subject of retrospection ; and he
cannot look upon it, even at this late day, without sen
sations of the keenest sorrow.
On the 22d September, 1819, my grandson, Augustus
Griffin Wells, died, aged fourteen months. lie was a
promising child. His disease, the dysentery, mocked
the efforts of physicians, medicine, and fond parents.
The following lines were written by his dear, weep
ing mother, after his death, in her Bible :
Forbear the unavailing sigh !
My babe is surely bless d ;
Angels have borne him hence away,
[n Jesus arms to rest. H. L W.
180 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Died, on Saturday, 22d September, 1849, at 4 o clock,
P. M., Harriet Matilda, wife of Walter O. Hubbard, of
New York, aged twenty-one years. She was the affec
tionate and accomplished daughter of the late James
and (my daughter) Deziah Preston.
The number of schooners, sloops, and smacks, sailing
from Orient, in 1850 and 51, cost, altogether, when
first off the stocks, $50,000. Now we have, of differ
ent tonnage, sail, whose cost, altogether, must be in the
neighborhood of $100,000.
There have been three or four j ustly respected and
meritorious women who devoted many years of their
lives in attending the sick of their sex in this town since
1740. Of these, the first was Elizabeth King. As far
back as 1770, we knew her ; then an old woman. She
was mother to Benjamin King s wife. This woman was
assuredly valuable to her generation, and successful in
her attendance. An encouraging, careful, cheering
nurse, and, at all times, ready to administer proper re
storatives to the many who knew the value of her coun
sels and visits. About thirty odd years of strict atten
tion to the duties allotted her by Providence, this ve
nerable mother closed a useful life to the generation
who knew how to appreciate her worth. At her death,
not far from 1780, she was aged eighty-one years. She
attended at the birth of one thousand or more children.
A Mrs. Peck was also known as an excellent mid
wife from 1760 to 1775. She lived in Southold village.
Was mother to Augustus and Joseph Peck, of that
place.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 181
Mrs. Lucretia Lester succeeded Mrs. King. She was
the daughter of the late Samuel Beebe, of Plumb Is
land, who was the grandson of Joseph Beebe, the se
cond owner of Plumb Island. Mrs. Lester became the
widow of Thomas Lester not far from 1775. At, or be
fore that time, she began to be justly respected as a
nurse arid doctress to the pains and infirmities incident
to her fellow mortals, especially her own sex. She was,
for thirty years of her life, conspicuous as such. Her
mild and well-timed answers of tenderness, and manner
of administering relief, showed she possessed a mind
and judgment h tting for the station she occupied.
To the sick and afflicted she was, at all times, in
season and out of season, an angel of mercy ; a wo
man whose price was above rubies ; a Dorcas of Scrip
ture ; and a mother, may we not safely say, in Israel.
It is said that she attended, with success, at the birth of
about one thousand three hundred children, and of that
number, lost but two. Mrs. Lester died on the even
ing of the 12th of November, 1799, after an illness of
about twelve hours.
Susannah Brown, the daughter of the late Hi chard
Youngs, who was the fourth generation from, and a
lineal descendant of Rev. John Youngs, the first minis
ter of Southold, from 1800 to 1840, at all times, and in
all seasons, attended at call to the necessities and dis
tresses incident to those to whom her assistance and
knowledge could benefit. An enlivening cheerfulness,
united with mildness, encouragement, and words fitly
spoken, gave a zest to the patient and a solace to the
household.
16
182 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
She was married iu 1787 to Richard Brown, the
fourth generation from Richard Brown, the first, who
came to Oysterponds in 1665, and died in 1686. Mrs.
Brown* attended at the births of about one thousand
four hundred children.
"Women doctors are coming to be institutions among
us. This is perfectly natural ; the proprieties dictate
the need of their practice among their own sex, and
even the "regulars " are beginning to extend them the
right hand of fellowship, and to welcome them to the
ranks of the profession. They are, in fact, but reviving
an old custom, dating as far back as the days of Moses.
It is but nine years since the first female medical
student graduated of course, the fact was then a nine
days wonder but students and colleges have since
been multiplying with inconceivable rapidity. Boston
and Philadelphia have Female Medical Colleges, aided
by government, and the colleges of Syracuse, Cleve
land and Cincinnati have opened their doors to women.
We have a mortal horror of quacks and quackery,
and are glad to see that the leaders of this movement
have availed themselves of every educational advan
tage within their reach. If women are to become phy
sicians, it is good policy to give them every facility for
becoming capable and skilled ones. Open the hospitals
to them the cliniques will be none the less decently
managevl for their presence. The need of educated
women is keenly felt among their own sex. Men will
suffer nothing by the new order of things, except it be
*This excellent woman died on Sabbath eve, January 23, 1853, aged
89 years and 6 days ; was born January 17, 1764, and had been a widow
26 years.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 183
the doctors, and their miseries the public can bear with
fortitude.
George Champlin caine to my honse in July, 1824,
at that date in his twenty-first year. He stopped with
us about three years. In all that time he conducted
himself with great propriety and civility. His society
was to us always pleasant. This excellent man died on
the 16th May, 1849, after a very protracted illness.
In April, 1830, Mr. Champlin married Cynthia, the
daughter of the late Captain Jeremiah and Mrs. Lydia
Youngs, of Orient.
On the 25th August, 1853, a company of men, wo
men and children, from Sag Harbor, were landed at
the wharf in Orient, at 8 A. M., and repaired to Taber s
Grove, where they partook of a collation, which was
got up in good style. The company numbered, I should
suppose, not far from three hundred from those of a
year old to near seventy. They came in the steamboat
Agawain. It is thought there were altogether in the
grove five hundred or more, a part of them our Orient
folks. Those from Sag Harbor left us about 6 o clock,
P. M., in good spirits.
John Nicolas Genin was born in the Province of Lo-
rain, in France, in the year 1756. He came to Ame
rica while we were struggling for independence. Ac-
quebogue was the place of his permanent location.
Sometime after his arrival and settlement at that place,
he married a daughter of Mr. John Fournier, Sr., who
himself was a Frenchman, and from that country some
years before. By Miss Fournier, Mr. G. had one child,
184 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
a son, who was John Genin, Jr., born in 1787. He
lived to see his thirty-fourth year ; was sometime a
grocery merchant in New York ; a man of integrity,
and generous to a fault. His death took place in New
York, in 1820. By his wife, who was the daughter of
Israel Conklin, and grand-daughter of Nathaniel Domi
ni, Sr., he had two sons, viz : John N., born 1813,
and Erastus, born 1815. These two grandsons of the
first John N. are now doing a business in the hat line,
and have a Bazaar in Broadway, New York, in a style
and consequence equal, if not superior, to any estab-
ment in that city.
John Nicolas Genin, Sr., after losing his wife, mar
ried a Miss Hedges, by whom he had a son, Thomas
Hedges. This son is now a lawyer at the town of St.
Clairsville, in the State of Ohio ; a man highly tal
ented and greatly respected.
Mr. Genin, the eider, very soon after his settlement
at Acquebogue, became known through the town as an
industrious and worthy man, possessing and acting with
the strictest integrity. For many years he was a ven
der of indigo through the county. Was a good scholar,
but was much more easv in the French than the Eng-
O
lish language. He died at Acquebogue, in May, 1810,
in his fifty-fifth year.
John Calvin Wells, now a merchant in Greenport, is
the eldest son of Captain Benjamin Wells, of Southold,
who was the son of John C. Wells, who died in 1810,
who was the son of Abner Wells, who was the son of
Henry Wells, who was the son of Joshua Wells, who
was the son of William Wells, who landed at Southold,
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 185
making one of the thirteen families which first came to
this town. This last named William Wells was a man
of education, a counsellor, and a judicious and valuable
member of that early society, principally composed of
uncivilized natives. Some of the books, papers, and
other interesting 1 relics of those early days in our his
tory are now in the keeping of his namesake and des
cendant of the sixth generation, William H. Wells, a
merchant in Southold village.
Woman has, in every age of the world, evinced pa
triotic zeal in national conflicts for the liberties and hap
piness of her country and family.
Many and glowing instances are recorded of their
fearless and daring intrepidity. At certain times, it
would seem their courage bordered on rashness. In our
own favored and happy country, when struggling for
its independence, the personal bravery and heroism of
many of the wives and daughters of our Revolutionary
fathers astonished, and often dismayed, their heartless
invaders.
From 1776 to 1683, Long Island was solely under
British rule. In the year 1778, foreign mercenaries
were quartered in and around Southold. Generally,
their movements and address were unpleasant and for
bidding, especially when entering a house for favors.
It was on a summer s day in the year last mentioned,
that a small party of light horse hastily rode up to the
house of Major John Corwin, of Mattituck, and the
officer, in a rough voice, demanded of Mrs. Corwin,
(her husband being absent) some grain for their horses,
16*
186 GEIFFIN S JOURNAL.
and, to enforce this order and show the consequence of
his authority, he, with a commanding air, observed :
" Madam, your situation warns you to an immediate
attention to my request. To abuse my authority, is to
rush to destruction." Mrs. Corwin was unmoved, no
wise daunted, and coolly replied that she had no
food for him nor his horses. " Well," said he, with a
harsh oath, " here is a fine piece of wheat across the
road ; it will answer for our horses, and we ll have it."
With that, he made for the bars which opened into this
field of grain. At this move, she, with a spirit almost
superhuman, commanded him instantly to desist, at his
peril ; " for," said she, " although I am alone and un
protected, and in your power, I am a stranger to fear,
and defy your threats. The first horse that enters that
wheat field I will shoot instantly dead." With this
daring resolution, and, suiting the action to the word,
she seized her husband s old King s arm, which stood
loaded behind the door, and took her station to consum
mate her purpose.
The wheat field was not touched. They left, mutter
ing curses and praises on the women. Mrs. Corwin,
previous to her marriage, was a Miss Mapes. She died
on Christmas day, in 1850, in her ninety-first year.
Amon Taber Griffin was the fourth son of Peter Grif
fin, noticed before. He (A. T. G.) married a widow
lady in New York, about the year 1806, by whom he
had tivo sons and two daughters. The sons George
and Amon after living to the state of manhood, died,
one of them leaving a wife and only son. The two
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 187
daughters are yet living ; the oldest, Maria, is now the
wife of William Conselyea, Esq., near Williamsburgh.
In June, 1850, I visited this amiable and fine cousin,
with her noble-hearted husband. Was treated with
great kindness. Their children are Joseph, George,
Ellen, John Henry, Anna Maria, and William Griffin.
July 10, 1845, in company with a Mr. Parshel, a gen
tleman from New York, I visited, what is now called,
the Old Burying Ground, in this place. It is situated
in a deep hollow, within a short distance of the shore
of Long Island Sound. The hills are known as Brown s
Hills. It is now fifty years since the inhabitants of this
place have used it for a burying place. A visit to this
solemn spot shows the heartless neglect and inattention
of the present generation, respecting even common de
cency towards the ashes of their honored Christian fa
thers and mothers.
The gravestones are many of them broken and mu
tilated by time, or beasts, or man. The mounds cover
ing the dust of the precious wife, husband, brother,
sister, or friend, arc torn and pawed about, and, in some
instances, nearly effaced. Is it possible that a people,
professing civilization and Christianity, can calmly sit
and see the affecting desecration of the selected resting
place of the first proprietors of their now wealthy
and peaceful abodes. The means are assuredly abun
dant, but the heart is wanting. The Father of the
Faithful, whom Scripture informs us was called the
Friend of God, held the tombs of his deceased as holy
ground. A generation or two more walking in the sel-
188 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
fish steps of the present one, will render this interest
ing depository of the dust of those progenitors as diffi
cult to be pointed out to the traveler as is now the sites
of Babylon or Ninevah.
While viewing the gravestones in this secluded spot,
I copied the following from some of the stones which
Time has marked with his destroying hand, and moss
has overgrown. Yet, as the pious Dr. Watts observed
of the monument of a famous Roman general
" Yet, e er I pass d, with much ado,
I guess d and spelt out Scipio."
" Walter Youngs, son of Gideon Youngs, died in
1714, aged four years." I think this must have been a
son of the second Gideon Youngs.
" Rhoda, daughter of Gideon Youngs. She died in
1765, aged fifty-seven."
" Dorothy, daughter of Jonathan and Dorothy
Youngs ; died 1719, aged twenty-two years."
Jonathan Youngs wife, Dorothy, died 1753, aged
sixty-eight. This Jonathan Youngs was the son of Gid
eon Youngs, who was grandson of John Youngs, the
first preacher at Southold, before noticed.
Christopher Tuthill, the father of Christopher, Jere
miah, David, Matthew, Nathaniel and Abraham and
daughters, viz : Phoebe, Esther, Dorothy, Rhoda, Me-
hitable and Matsey, died in November, 1798, in his
seventy-third year.
Henry Booth died 1710, aged five years ; George
Booth died 1713, aged seventeen years ; Samuel King
died 1721, aged eighty-nine years ; Thomas Terry, son
of Jonathan and Lydia Terry, died 1753, aged fourteen
years ; Patience, his sister, died 1754, aged three years.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 189
On the stone of Bathsheba, the wife of William
King, is the following lines, by her husband :
"Beneath this little stone, here lies
The wife of William King ;
And though she s dead to mortal eyes,
She will revive again !
" Lived four and fifty years a wife
Died in her seventy-seven
Has now laid down this mortal life,
In hopes to live in Heaven !"
She died 7th May, 1764.
On the stone of Samuel Beebe s wife, who died Juno
10, 1716 :-
" Here lieth Elizabeth, once Samuel Beebe a wife,
Who once was made a living soul,
But now deprived of life.
Yet firmly did believe that at her Lord s return,
She should be made a living soul,
In his own shape and form !
" Lived four and thirty years a wife
Died, aged seventy-seven
Has now laid down this mortal life,
In hopes to live in Heaven !"
Here lieth interred
the body of Colonel
IOHN YOVNGS, Esqvire,
late one of His
Maiesties Covncel of
the Province of
New York, who
Departed this life
the 12 day of April,
Anno Domini 1698,
Aged 75 years.
190 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Here lies ye body of William Wells, of Southold, gent. Justice of ye
peace, and first She riffe of New York shire, upon Long Island, Who de
parted this life Nov. 13, 1671, aged 63.
"yea, Here he lies Who Sp-aketh yet, thovgh dead
On \vingsof faith, his sovl to Heaven is fled ;
His Piovs Deeds And charity Was Svch
That of his Praise, no pen can Write too rnvch ;
As Was his life, So Was his blest death
Hee died in love, and Swetly dyd in peace."
" Mr lohn Yongs, Minister of the Word and first *etled
of the Chvrch of Christ in Sovth hold, on Long Inland,
Deceased the 24 of Febrvary, in ihe Yeare
of ovr Lord 1672, and of his age 74.
"Here lies the man whose doctrine life, well knowen,
Did shew he sovght Christ s honovr, not his owen ;
In weaknes sown, in power raisd slmll be
By Christ, from Death to Life Eternally."
Jonathan Tntliill died in 1741, aged fifty years.
Henry Tuthill died in 1715, aged twenty-four years.
Jeremiah Youngs died April 2, 1821, aged fifty -four
years. Jeremiah, when a hoy, was the favorite nephew
of William and Samuel Youngs, two respectable men
of Oysterponds, who were never married. The first
died in 1774, leaving his estate to his brother Samuel,
who died in 1776. lie devised the property entire to
this nephew Jeremiah about one hundred acres of
land, with the buildings and appurtenances. At this
time, Jeremiah was about nine years of age.
At the age of twenty-three, he married Lydia, the
third daughter of Stephen and Ruth Vail, of Rocky
Point. By this marriage, he had three daughters and
seven sons. At this time, they are all living; the
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 191
youngest, Benjamin, is near fifty years of age. Having
held a commission as captain of militia, he, for many
years was called, and by the present generation is only
known as Captain Yonngs.
In the summer of 1814, Commodore Decatur, with
three ships, lay at anchor in Long Island Sound, oppo
site Truman s Beach, near Brown s Hills. The ships
were United States, Macedonian and Hornet.
C.ip ain Yo ings had prom meJ hi.nself, should an op
portunity ever otter, to present Decatur wiih a fat sheep
for his valiant and successful capture of the noble fri
gate Macedonian. In the morning, soon after the ships
were discovered, he selected a likely ewe from his flock,
manned a boat, and proceeded on board the flag ship of
the squadron. He was received by Decatur with great
kindness and freedom. Captains Jones and Biddle
were present. \Vus cordially thanked for his grateful
expression of respect. CapT. Youngs, in relating the
facts of this visil, stated that Decatur seemed sensibly
affected, and he fell the most perfect satisfaction that
his present was duly appreciated. At parting, he took
Capt. Youngs by the hand, and with a warm pressure,
observed: U I am sensible of your disinterestedness.
This favor impresses me wil.h a desire to meet you an
other day; I believe you are a true lover of your coun
try." This was the first, and hist meeting of these in
dividuals ; one jus.ly celebrated for his daring and suc
cessful achievements in his country s cause, the other a
humble citizen in our obscure village, but possessing
the untainted heart of a true American.
192 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Anna Brewsterwas born at Blooming Grove, Orange
County, New York, in 1769, and died in 1844, aged
seventy-five years. She was noted for her good sense,
relined manners, and prepossessing address, though
hardly three feet in height. Washington was pleased
to seek her acquaintance.
On the 5th of November, 1828, Captain Franklin
was married to his second wife, Lady Jane Franklin.
She was the second daughter of John Griffin, Esq., of
Bedford-place, London. In April, 1829, Mr. Franklin
received the honors of knighthood, in consequence of
which he is called Sir John Franklin.
The portrait of my dear wife was taken when she
was forty-one years of age, by Abraham G. D. Tuthili,
who was a pupil some time of the celebrated Benjamin
"West, in Europe. The likeness was pronounced a good
one. In form and person, she was of near the middle
size, rather slender and delicate, penetrating black eyes,
regular features, and an aifable, mild deportment, and
without guile.
I see thee still !
This was our room our dear retreat
This was our favorite fireside seat ;
Here, in this chair, you sat each day,
While I sat watching thy decay :
Here, on this bed, thou last did st lie
And on this pillow thou did st die.
Dark hour ! once more its woes unfold,
As when I saw thee pale and cold !
I see thee still !
Jonathan Goldsmith Horton, now of Southold, is the
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 193
son of the late Captain Jonathan Horton, who was the
son of Lazarus Horton, wlio was the son of Jonathan
Horton, who was the son of Jonathan Horton, who was
the son of Barnabas Horton, who was one of the memo
rable thirteen families before mentioned.
Barnabas Horton was forty years of age at the time
of his landing, and lived to see his eighty-first year.
He died in 1680. His descendants are numerous in this
town and county. Indeed, there are many of them to be
found in several other counties of the State.
The day succeeding that on which the British burnt
ISTew London, in September, 1781, and massacred the
garrison at Fort Griswold, at Groton, they passed over
the sound to Long Island, and landed, many of them,
at Oysterpond point, traveled up the road, about two
miles, to this village. Their actions and disorderly
conduct carried terror to the inhabitants. Mr. Jere
miah Vail, who had just heard of their inc-rciless cruel
ties at New London and Groton, with emotions of no
common excitement viewed them coming up the road.
His wife called Betsey, but named Elizabeth dis
played great self-possession and fortitude. She saw
them approaching the house, without order or discipline,
and very furious. Mr. Vail kept a house of entertain
ment, but at this time had no liquors except two hogs
heads of good cider. The thought of this cider flashed
across her mind, and the consequences that would fol
low should they find it. She went forthwith, alone, to
the cellar, knocked out the bungs of the hogsheads con-
17
194 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
taining the liquor, and, by an almost superhuman effort,
turned them in a position so that their contents were
soon all flooding the ground floor. She then ascended
the stairs in time to meet the unwelcome countenances
and forbidding expressions of this ruthless gang, who
entered the house more like demons than civilized
beings. Their looks she described as awful having
not slept probably within the last forty-eight hours, and
besmeared visibly with the blood of her murdered coun
trymen at Groton. They flourished their swords, and
uttered oaths of vengeance on American rebels ; seized
and bound Mr. Vail, and confined him in the garret.
They searched every room, pantry, and closet, in search
of, as they said, " something to drink." Finding noth
ing, the cellar was next resorted to. They there soon
discovered they had been successfully foiled in their
wicked purpose. The ground had drank the liquor, and
was still sober. Like mad men, they ascended to the
room of Mrs. Vail, and demanded her reasons for de
priving them of refreshments. She very deliberately
replied : " You are the enemies of my country ; I have
nothing for you ; you have no business here ; threats nor
oaths don t alarm me. If I have done wrong, I am re
sponsible to my husband, not to you. You will not eat
or drink in this house, if I can prevent it." She ex
pected violence ; but they left the house very soon after,
muttering curses for her devotion and fortitude. Mrs.
Vail was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Glover,
of Oysterponds. Mr. Glover, we suppose, was the grand
son of Samuel Glover, Sen., who was living with his
wife, Sarah, in 1698.
Jeremiah Vail, the husband, was the fourth in sue-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL., 195
cession of his family. He died January 8th, 1T98.
Jeremiah Vail, Sen., and Anna, his wife, were living,
advanced in life, in 1698. They had sons, one of which,
Jeremiah, second, with his wife, Mary, were living at
that time. He, the second Jeremiah, must have been
grandfather to Mrs. Betsey Vail s husband.
Mrs. Betsey Vail died, the widow Vail, in 1818, or
near that time, more than eighty years of age. Her
mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Glover, died in 1803, in her
ninety-fourth year.
The first of the family of the name of Reeve carne to
America from Wales, (Europe,) not far from 1660, and
settled at Mattituck. Tradition says there were tw^o
brothers ; their names Thomas and James. We believe
James to be the progenitor and ancestor of the family
of that name in Mattituck, Acquebogue, and Jamaica,
in Queens County, and the connections of these families
in New York City and Orange County. The Hon. James
Reeve, whose monument in the cemetery at Mattituck
says he died in 1739, aged sixty years. He was son,
or grandson to the James who was one of the brothers
above mentioned. The first son of the Hon. James
Reeve was known as Deacon James Reeve. He died
April 27th, 1781 , aged seventy-two years. Deacon James
Reeve had five sons, whose names were 1st, James ;
2d, Selah; 3d, Isaac; 4th, Nathaniel; 5th, Ebenezer.
James, the first son of Deacon Reeve, graduated at
Yale College and became a preacher, which profession
he followed but a few years, when he took possession
of his father s farm, and took the office of a Magistrate.
196 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
He was a useful man. He died June 8th, 1787, aged
fifty six years. His wife was Anna Wines. She died
February 3d, 1800, aged sixty-four.
The Deacon s second son, Selah, who subsequently
became, a deacon, settled about three miles north of
Newburgh, Orange county, where he died February 21st,
1796, in his fifty-fifth year, leaving a widow and a large
family of children. Selah, one of these children, died
at Newburgh, April llth, 1837, leaving children
Christopher, Charles F. Y., George, Nathan, Selah,
Julia Ann, Eliza, Jane, and Harriet M. Charles F. Y.
graduated at West Point, and resides at Newburgh.
She, the widow, died January 21st, 1829, aged eighty-
four years.
The third son, Isaac, was a major of militia, and much
respected in his day.
His only son, Isaac Tuthill Reeve, Esq., was a sheriff
of this county in 1801, and afterwards an assistant judge
of the court in Queens County. He died June 15th,
1811, aged forty-nine years. His wife was Joanna, the
daughter of Judge Daniel Wells, of Riverhead, L. I.
Major Isaac Reeve died October 5th, 1814, in his
seventy-ninth year.
Deacon Reeve s fourth son was Nathaniel, who died
in youth.
The Deacon s fifth son, Ebenezer, settled first in Con
necticut. After some years residence in that State, he
removed to the State of Ohio.
James the minister, farmer, and magistrate had six
sons and one daughter. The first son, James, became
a valuable member in the church at Mattituck ; was
some years a magistrate, and once or twice a Repre-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 197
sentative in the Assembly of this State. He died March
4th, 1830, aged seventy-three years. His son James,
now sixty-nine years of age, is the 5th James, in succession,
who have owned and possessed the homestead farm.
Major Isaac Eeeve, Deacon James Keeve s third son,
was twice married. His first wife was Phebe, the
daughter of Henry and Phebe Tuthill. They, Henry
and Phebe, had but two children daughters Phebe
and Anna. Phebe, as noticed, was married to Major
Isaac Reeve, and Anna became the wife of Honorable
John Cleeves Symes, of the State of Ohio. She,
Anna, was the mother of Mrs. President Harrison,
as noticed. The Major, by his wife Phebe, had
but one child Isaac Tuthill Reeve, as before no
ticed. This Isaac Tuthill Reeve had seven children,
four only of whom are now living, viz. : Samuel, Lau-
rens, John Flavel, and James Henry. Laurens and
James reside in Jamaica, Queens County.
Rev. Daniel Youngs, of Upper Acquebogue, was born
at that place about the year 1747, and died October,
1814.
In the year 1775, or 1776, at the age of twenty-eight,
he became strongly impressed that it was his duty to
preach the Gospel. With some severe struggles as to
being competent to such an important trust, with his
limited knowledge as to education, he heeded the in
ward spiritual monitor, and preached his first sermon
in the year 1776. In the year 1781, or 1782, he was
called to take charge of the church in Upper Acque-
17*
198 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
bogue, over which the Eev. Timothy Wells had presided
from 1759 to 1780, when he died, aged 80 years.
Mr. Youngs was, for the first twenty years of his
preaching, a powerful, pleasing, and convincing speaker
was a noble-looking man wore a handsome wig
dignified, solemn, yet pleasing in his manners. At the
time of his death, it appears he had presided over his
charge about thirty-three years, in all of which time
there were constant additions to the church. A more
deserving and a more beloved pastor never was known
in any parts of this region.
At his death he left a widow and several children.
His eldest son, Daniel, was a man much and justly re
spected, as a valuable member of the community a
worthy deacon of the church. I believe he, lor one
term, was a Representative in the Assembly of our
State, and at one time a colonel of the militia.
Col. Daniel Young s eldest daughter married Gen.
David Williamson, of Acquebogue.
Asaph Monroe Youngs, born in 1819, is the son of
Asaph Youngs, who was born in 1796> who was the son
of Rev. Daniel Youngs, who was born in 1748, w T ho was
the son of Daniel Youngs, born in 1718, who was the
son of Samuel Youngs, born 1680, who was the son of
Thomas Youngs, born 1660, who was son to Thomas
Youngs, Sen., born 1627, who was son to Rev. John
Youngs, who first came to this town, where he died in
1672 making the eighth generation.
Rev. Moses Sweezy succeeded Rev. Daniel Youngs
in the pastoral charge of the church at Upper Acque
bogue. He proved himself worthy, and fitted for the
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 199
sacred office. His energy, piety, and industry in and
over his charge was great. His spirits were buoyant ;
disposition, mild and pleasant ; a man of sterling sense ;
kindness and complaisance were interwoven in his na
ture, and Truth his motto. He died at his post, on the
28th of January, 1826, aged fifty-five years.
My friend, the Rev. Eury stheus H. Wells, of Upper Ac-
quebogue, informs me that the church in that parish,
which was first organized in 1T59, has, since that date,
produced from its members the following preachers of
the Gospel, as strict Congregationalists :
Reverend Joseph Corwin, never located. He died
Jan. 29th, 1811.
Richard Benjamin, settled in the western part of the
State of New York.
Abraham Luce, preached at Westhampton, Union
Parish, and Northville, in this county.
David Benjamin, at Baiting Hollows, N. Y.
Ebenezer Luce, at western part of the State of N. Y.
Nath. Fanning, not located.
Shadrach Terrey, in some part of Pennsylvania.
Moses Benjamin, western part of this county.
Christopher Youngs, at the Baiting Hollow, N. Y.
Parshel Terry, at western part of State of New York.
Eury stheus II. Wells, not located.
Azel Downs, Mount Hope, Orange Co., IS". Y.
"William Benjamin, preacher at times, at or near Ca
noe Place, N. Y.
James Youngs, who settled in the State of New
Jersey.
Manly Wells, settled or preached occasionally at
Baiting Hollows, aforesaid.
200 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Capt/ Rufus Tuthill, father of Rufus before noticed,
departed this life, in this village, December llth, 184:3?
aged ninty-six years, ten months, and twenty-four days,
an ornament to the Christian faith, and a Samaritan in
mercy.
He was the son of Daniel Tuthill, Jr., who was the
son of Daniel Tuthill, Sen., who was the son of John
Tuthill Jr., who was the son of John Tuthill, Sen., who
first came from Europe.
The first of the family by the name of Beebee to this
country, was Joseph Beebee, who came from Plymouth,
Massachusetts, not far from the year 1670, about which
time he purchased Plum Island of Samuel Willys. He,
Samuel Willys, had, in 1667, bought it of the Indians
for one barrel of biscuit, one hundred muxes, and a few
fish-hooks altogether, not worth more than ten dollars.
Joseph Beebee was the father of Samuel Beebee, Sen.,
whose wife was Elizabeth Rogers, to whom he was
married 9th February, 1681, and had one son, Samuel,
whose wife w r as Ann Lester, whom he married Jan. 1st,
1717. Their children were
1st. Elizabeth, born Oct 13, 1719.
2d. Samuel, born Nov. 25th, 1721.
3d. Eliphalet, born Dec. 27th, 1723.
4th. Elnathan, born Oct. 25th, 1725.
5th. Hannah, born August 23d, 1727.
6th. Amon, born Jan. 4th, 1729 ; died young.
7th. Theophilus, born Jan. 31st, 1731.
8th. Lucretia, born Dec. 29th, 1732.
9th. Silas, born Nov. llth, 1734.
10th. Amon, born Aug. 29th, 1739.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 201
lltli and 12th. Jerusha and Jemima, twins, born
about 1736, betwixt Silas and Amon ; of course Amon
was the 12th.
Silas Beebee s family, in a straight line, who is the
second son of Daniel Beebee, who is the son of Silas
Beebee, who was the son of Samuel Beebee, Jr., who
was the son of Samuel Beebee, Sen., who was the son
of Joseph Beebee, who, as before said, came from Fly-
mouth, to which place he, or perhaps his father, had
come with the Pilgrims in 1620.
Lodiwick, Daniel Beebee s son, is the sixth generation.
Samuel Beebee, who was born Nov. 25th, 1721, and
great-grandson to Joseph Beebee, the second proprietor
of Plum Island, had five sons, viz. : Samuel, Lester,
Eliphalet, Jason, and Thomas. The four last of these
brothers became men of note as ship-masters. Captain
Lester and Thomas died some years since, at Sag Harbor ;
Eliphalet died at Newburgh, and Jason was lost at sea.
The Rev. Peter Hobart came to America about the
year 1636, or very near that time, from Hingham, which
is about one hundred and eight miles from London.
He settled in Hingham, in Massachusetts, where he
died Jan. 20th, 1679. He had five sons, viz. : Joshua,
Jeremiah, Gershom, Japheth, and Xehemiah.
Joshua was some time the minister at Southold. He
was born in England, in 1628 ; a man of liberal educa
tion ; settled at Southold about 1674. He died in the
year 1717, in his eighty-ninth year. His wife, Mary, died
in 1697. He was grandfather to the celebrated Indian
missionary, David Brainard. Jeremiah, second son,
202 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
was some time a minister at Hempstead, Long Island ;
lie, too, was born in England, in 1630, and came to this
country with his father, being at the time but live years
old. He died at Haddam, in Connecticut, at the age of
eighty -seven years; he, too, was liberally educated. He
preached in the forenoon of the day he died. Some
say that Jeremiah was grandfather to Mr. Brainard,
and that his daughter, Dorothy, was Mr. Brainard s
mother. Be that as it may, his mother was a Hobart,
and grand-daughter to Eev. Peter Hobart.
Gershom was a minister at Groton, Conn.
Japheth was a physician.
Nehemiah a minister at Newtown, Mass.
John Sloss Hobart, who was a chief judge of this
State, was a grandson or great-grandson of the Rev.
Peter Hobart, above mentioned. In the summer of the
year 1800, I often attended church in "Westchester, !N".
Y. Judge Hobart was strict in his attendance as a
hearer. I observed him with much interest, knowing
him to have been a conspicuous public man. The gen
erations of the Hobart family are seven, in a direct line
from the present John "W. Hobart, who is the son of
Benjamin K. Hobart, who is the son of Samuel Hobart,
who was the son of Joshua Hobart, (third,) who was
the son of Joshua Hobart, (second,) who was the son of
the Kev. Joshua Hobart, who was the son of Rev. Peter
Hobart, aforesaid.
Samuel Hobart, of this village, the sixth generation
from said Eev. Peter Hobart, departed this life on the
27th of June, 1837, aged sixty-four years. He had
followed the sea, as a business, for more than forty
years twenty of them as an able ship-master.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 203
His faith was unwavering in the belief of the final
salvation of every son and daughter of Adam. In his
last moments he was rational and calm, saying, " I have
not a doubt ; glory to God !"
Asa Partridge was born in July, 1764. Not far from
1785 he came to Sag Harbor, and took charge of the
district school.
About 1798 he commenced doing business in the
mercantile line. Success crowned his efforts. When
more than eighty years of age, he met with reverses
from which he never recovered. Disheartened and
broken down with age, Mr. Partridge left Sag Harbor, in
1851, and repaired to his son-in-law s, Thomas Fessen-
den, Esq., in New York, with whom he resided until his
death in January, 1855, aged ninety-two years. His wife,
Betsey, to whom he had been married fifty years, died
seven or eight days before him.
Mary Griffin, already noticed as the fourteenth child
of. Samuel Griffin, was married to Medad Stone, of
Guilford, Conn., in the year 1785, by whom she had
two children. The first died in infancy ; the second,
named Sally, born 1787, married a Mr. Bartholomew,
of Hartford, about 1816. Their children are
1st. George Ward ; 2d. Fanny Elizabeth ; 3d. Frederick
Stone.
Wareham Griswold, a merchant in Hartford, Conn.,
is the fifth generation from the first of the family that
came to this country. He informs me that his great-
204 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
great-grandfather was one of three brothers that came
to America somewhere near 1650 one of which settled
at or near Lyme, one at Windsor, and the other at East
Granby.
Matthew was son to the first, who was the great-great
grandfather aforesaid ; Alexander was son to Matthew ;
Alexander s wife was Eleanor Bernard ; Hezekiah was
son to Alexander. Hezekiah was born at East Granby,
Feb. 5th, 1780, and died Sept, 30th, 1854, in his seventy-
fifth year. Wareham, Hezekiah s son, was born at
Hartford, Jan. 22d, 1808. His wife was Delia A.
Thompson, born Aug. 1st, 1811 Their children are
1st. Delia S., born July llth, 1833.
2d. Helen M. H., born Nov. 14th, 1838.
3d. Emma C., born Feb. 8th, 1845.
4th. Lelia Isabel, born Feb. 19th, 1849.
My grandson, Chatham Augustus Griffin, born March
14th, 1829, married Delia S. Griswold in May, 1852.
In September, 1854, when in my eighty-eighth year, I
visited Hartford, Conn., to see my grandson, Chatham A.
G. While there, I was introduced to that excellent and
talented authoress, Mrs. L. H. Sigourney. Marked
civilities were accorded me ; and this short visit to this
lady of real merit and honor to her sex and country,
was a source of much interest and satisfaction.
While on this visit, I was made acquainted with, and
received the most affectionate attentions of the late Col.
James Ward, aged at the time eighty-seven years. He
was a very agreeable gentleman of the old school, and
greatly beloved.
From Professor Stewart, the owner of the Charter
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 205
Oak, of famous veneration, I received, also, the most
respectful consideration.
Mrs. Emma Peterson, who was, before her marriage,
Miss Overton, was the daughter of Jonathan B. and
Elizabeth Overtoil, of Riverhead, L. I. She has had,
by her two husbands, twenty children. She is now a
delicate, tine-looking woman, I should suppose not more
than forty-five years of age. Her father died in the
year 1852, aged seventy-two years. He was great-
grandson to Isaac Overton, mentioned before, as cele
brated one hundred years ago for his superior feats of
strength.
Samuel Hazard Terry, Esq., who recently died at Ja
maica, L. L, aged fifty-six years, some twenty years
since entered the United States Navy as purser. In this
honorable station he remained, I believe, until- his
death. He fulfilled the duties assigned him in that
situation with due respect to himself and country. He
was the only son to the late Samuel Terry, in 1796 a
dry goods merchant in New York. After this, Samuel
went to St. D.oiningo, as supercargo; and he was mas
sacred in that awful time when it was death to all white
men to be seen on the island. Samuel Terry was the
son of the late Col. Thomas Terry, of Oysterponds, L.
I. His mother was, when a girl, Mary Hazard. She
died the widow of Mi-. John Wickham, who was her
fourth husband.
Jean Boiseau, as his Christian name was pronounced,
s
206 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
at the time he came to Southold, which was not far
from 1690, married Deborah, the daughter of Nathaniel
Moore, whose father was Thomas Moore, who died June
25th, 1691. John Terry, Jr., of Oysterponds, married
the sister of Mrs. Boiseau. This John Boiseau, at the
time of his death, left two sons, viz. : John and Na
thaniel ; the latter of these died in 1780. John mar
ried, we believe, a Miss Yail. We knew her more than
seventy-five years ago an affectionate mother and wife.
Their children were John, Nathaniel, Benjamin, and
Ezra; daughters, Hannah, Betsey, Mary, and Phebe.
John, third in succession, and his brother Ezra, are now
the fourth generation.
In the war of 1812, Col. Benjamin Case, of Southold,
commanded the military post at Sag Harbor. He then
held the commission of major. As an officer command
ing the weight of attendant duties attached to its situa
tion, the Major bore, with a decision and moral deport
ment, honorable to himself and truly satisfactory to his
country. Captains Noah Terry and Joshua Fleet were
on duty, at the post, at the time men of noble minds,
generous to a fault, and patriots of sterling purity.
Col. Case is the son of the late Gershom Case, of Cut-
chogue, Southold, who died not far from 1816, over
ninety years of age. His wife lived to attain over
ninety years.
Edmond Fanning, the h rst of the family to America,
came to Stonington, Connecticut, about 1649. He had
two sons, viz. : William and Thomas. Thomas was
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 207
grandfather to the late Col. Phineas Fanning, of Acque-
bogue. The Colonel had two brothers, Thomas and
Edmond. Thomas lived, in what is now Greenport,
from about 1750 to 1775, and died Nov. 29th, 1782,
aged sixty years. Edmond was sometime Governor of
Nova Scotia, just after the Revolutionary "War. Tho
mas s son was the late David Fanning, who died in the
year 1812, at Sterling, leaving a widow the late Mrs.
Jane Fanning and five daughters and three sons, viz. :
Clarissa, Hannah, Betsey, Polly, and Lydia ; Richard,
David, and Samuel, Lydia is now the wife of Captain
William Y. Brown, of Greenport. Richard was lost at
sea, w^liile master of a fine ship.
It was on a pleasant day, in the summer of 1780, that
Dr. Joshua Clark, a respectable physician in the parish
of Mattituck, mounted his horse, rode east to Southold
village, about six miles, and stopped at the dwelling of
a Mr. Chase, who was a poor, but respectable man, with
a wife and two daughters Polly and Ann. The Doctor
was a widower at the time, of about seventy years of age.
His business was urgent, being no less than to obtain
the hand of Polly as a wife, with the consent of the pa
rents, and that, too, without further courtship. His
proposals were generous and frank, if she would willing
ly consent. She modestly assented, although only in
her seventeenth year. A message was sent to Judge
Samuel Landon, who lived within thirty rods. The
Judge, who was more than eighty years of age, soon
arrived at the room. With a dignity and gravity
natural to old age, he, with solemnity on the interesting
occasion, performed the ceremony of pronouncing them
208 [GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
man and wife. I was about twelve years of age, and
at the place where this novel scene was acted. I do
not suppose that the entire time of its occurrence was
more than one and a half hours, when the drama closed
with the Doctor s exit with his young bride, mounted
on the same old roan with him, she seated on a pillion,
as was the fashion in those honorable days.
On the 5th of April, 1836, 1 was introduced, by Jonah
Halsey, of Southold, at his house, to a widow Esther Pen
ny, who then was in the one hundred and second year of
her age. She had a dignified expression of countenance,
was sociable, intelligent and pleasant in relating interest
ing circumstances which took place, to her knowledge,
ninety years before. This excellent woman was known,
for many of the last years of her life, as a doctress, and
as an angel of mercy to the afflicted. Her advice and
prescriptions were of the first importance. Mrs. Penny
died in 1838, in her one hundred and third year.
It is said there were three brothers of the Browns
Israel, Samuel, and Richard who came to Oysterponds
about the year 1645 or 1650, and each purchased them
selves a piece of land of the natives, to improve and erect
dwellings suitable for their families. The locations of
these buildings have already been noticed.
Israel s children I know not except Joseph, who mar
ried Dorothy, the daughter of John Tuthill, (third,)
called Squire John. By her he had Joseph, Benjamin,
Hannah, and Polly. Hannah became the wife of Jo-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 209
seph Young, and Polly the wife of Ensign John King.
Joseph Brown, Jr., married Mehitable, the daughter of
Jeremiah Yail, (third,) by whom he had eighteen chil
dren, viz. :
1st. Elizabeth, born July 8th, 1757.
2d. Joseph, born September 3d, 1758.
3d. Jeremiah, born January 4th, 1760.
4th. Benjamin, born March 24th, 1761.
5th. David, born August 9th, 1762.
6th. Nathaniel, born September 28th, 1763.
7th. Daniel, born February 17th, 1765.
8th. Isaac, born March 1st, 1766.
9th. Samuel, born July 19th, 1767.
10th. James, born February llth, 1769.
llth. Charlotte, born March 6th, 1770.
12th. Mehitable, born March 27th, 1771.
13th. Joshua, born November 2d, 1772.
14th. Youngs, born February 5th, 1774.
15th. John, bom March 20th, 1776.
16th. Hannah, born April 12, 1777.
17th. George, born April 6th, 1778.
18th. Dorothy, born March 15th, 1780.
Here we see eighteen children born of the same
mother in twenty-three years. Mr. Brown, the father,
was born October 30th, 1731 ; his wife in May 30th,
1738.
Benjamin Brown, Esq., (brother to Joseph Brown,
Jr.,) married Mary, the daughter of John Tuthill (fourth,)
niece to her husband. Benjamin s children were, viz. :
1st, Gershom ; 2d, Israel ; 3d, George ; 4th, Betsey ;
5th, Polly ; 6th, Jemima ; 7th, Bethia.
210 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
Betsey married a Mr. Taylor, of Southold, became a
widow at forty-five years of age, and died in her nine
tieth year.
Jemima married Jonathan Terry, Jr., and died in 1803.
Bethia married Captain Lester Beebee, of Sag Har
bor, the ship-builder before mentioned.
Israel and Polly never married.
Richard Brown, Sen., left three sons. The oldest,
who inherited the homestead, was Richard, Jr., the
second son was Samuel, and third David. Samuel had
a daughter, married to Samuel Beebe, of Plumb Island,
named Rebecca. Her daughter married Samuel Brown,
Jr., whose daughter, Mary, married Amon Taber. In the
year 1740, Richard Brown was commissioned a captain
in the militia of Oysterponds, under George the sec
ond. He was likewise appointed, with John Tuthill,
Esq., to take charge of the heretofore mentioned cannon.
If this John Tuthill, third, was he who was called
Squire John, he must, at the time, have been eighty-
two years of age, as he was born 1658, and died 1754,
about ninety-seven years of age. This charge to Richard
Brown was fifty-four years after his father s death; of
course, if this was Richard Brown, Jr., he too must
have been an old man I should say seventy odd.
Richard Brown, third, I should suppose was born about
the year 1700. He died about 1776, aged nearly eighty
years. His wife was Hannah Hawk, mentioned before.
He had sons, viz. : Richard, fourth, Samuel, and Chris
topher ; one daughter, Hannah. Richard, fourth, had
a son, Richard Brown, fifth ; and Richard, fifth, had a
eon, who was Richard Brown, sixth, who removed with
his family into the northern part of this State. There
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 211
are now but two families of the male line in this place,
viz. : Deacon Peter Brown, of the sixth generation, and
Captain Edwin Brown, of the seventh generation.
.Richard Brown, 4th, was, with his brother Samuel,
drowned in the month of March, 1TTO, both leaving
families. There were four in the boat at the time, viz :
John King, Peter Brown, Richard Brown and Samuel
Brown. They were all drowned in Gardiner s Bay,
near Eastharnpton.
Rev. John Youngs, the first minister at Southold, in
1640, had four sons, viz : John, Benjamin, Gideon and
Thomas. Thus, Gideon Youngs was the third son, and
as he was born in 1638, must have been only two or
three years old when the Youngs farm was pur
chased at Oysterponds. We cannot say, but it appears
that Gideon Youngs was owner and possessor of some
four hundred acres of land, as before noticed, as early
as 1660. It is not probable that he took possession of
the farm before he was twenty one years old, and that
would be in 1659. He had two sons, viz: Gideon
Jr., and Jonathan. The time of Gideon, Jr. s, death is
not known. Jonathan died in 1778, in his ninety-third
year. The father, Gideon Youngs, Sr., died in Novem
ber, 1699, aged sixty-one years.
Gideon, Jr. s, sons were 1st. Reuben ; 2d. Silas ;
3d. Abimel; 4th. Gideon; 5th. Henry; 6th. Walter.
The three first and the fifth mentioned, about 1732,
went and settled in Orange County, N. Y. Henry
died in 1767; Abimel died just after the War of the
Revolution ; Reuben and Silas in about 1800 very
212 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
aged men. They were all men of respectability, and
their descendants are many in that section of the coun
try. Walter has been previously noticed. Gideon
Youngs, 3d, left a son Gideon and two daughters. The
son, Gideon, 4th, died childless, leaving his name, on
the male side of his family, extinct.
Jonathan Youngs sons were 1st. Jonathan ; 2d. Jo
seph ; 3d. Jeremiah ; and 4th. Richard. Jonathan
was born in 1710, and died in 1770 ; Joseph died in
1816, over ninety-five years of age. Jonathan Youngs,
Sr., had two daughters, viz : Dorothy and Phoebe. The
first married Jeremiah Tuthill, Sr. The second mar
ried Christopher Tuthill, Sr. There is, at this time,
about nine or ten of the families, descendants of Jona
than Youngs, living in Orient. Yet, altogether, they
do not own or possess more than one hundred and
twenty acres of the first purchase of four hundred acres.
Thomas Youngs was the son of Joshua Youngs, who
was the son of Benjamin Youngs, who was the son of
Colonel John Youngs, w T ho was the son of Rev. John
Youngs. He was one of the Judges of the County
Court, and several times a Representives in the Assem
bly. He resided near where Greenport is situated, and
owned some five hundred acres of land, bounded on
the north by the Sound, and the bay, or Shelter Island
Ferry, on the south. From east to west, it was near a
mile on the main or country road, running through
about the centre of said farm. The Judge was a man
of liberal education, benevolent, and a wise counsellor,
but very tenacious of his large farm. Not a foot of it
would he dispose of for any consideration. He died
about 1793. His son Thomas then came in possession,
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 213
and, as to land, he was in mind much as his father. He
died in 1816. He left five sons, who next inherited
said farm. It is now divided up into small farms. His
children and grand-children, with Dr. Frederic W.
Lord and David G. Floyd, now possess and own the
most of it.
John Youngs, the 3rd, son of Judge Thomas Youngs,
married Matsey, the daughter of Christopher and
Phoebe Tuthill, by whom he had two sons John and
William, and daughter, Mehitable. John, Sr., was one
of the noblest works of God an honest man. H^
came in possession of the farm of the late John Tu thill ,
4th, who died about 1746. Was son to the John Tut
hill known in his day as Squire John, before mentioned.
Judge Thomas Youngs wife was Rhoda Budd, whose
sisters were Hannah and Mehitable. Hannah married
William Moore, w r hom she survived many years. At
her death, she was in her eighty-fourth year. Mehit
able married Daniel Tuthill, Jr. He died in 1768,
leaving her his widow.
Richard Terry, one of the said thirteen families, was
the progenitor of all the families of the name of Terry
in Oysterponcls, South old and Cutchogue, up to 1660,
at which, date, Thomas Terry came to Southold. How
near Thomas was related to the family of Richard or
whether he was at all we know not. Richard Terry
settled down with his household near where Counsellor
Cady now resides. What number of children he had,
we are not informed ; but we have seen the signatures
of John Terry, Jr., which he signed in 1685 and 1698.
214 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
This man must have been the son of John Terry, Sr.,
who was son to said Richard Terry. This John Terry,
Jr., settled at what was then called Oysterponds, as
early as 1660, or near that time. His wife was the
daughter of Nathaniel Moore. It appears that Nathan
iel Moore, son of Thomas Moore, who died June 20,
1691, owned a farm, which is now owned by Orange
Petty, John O. Terry, and some small parcels of it by
others. John Terry, Sr., was son of Richard Terry,
who was grandfather to John Terry, Jr., who was fa
ther to John Terry, 3rd, who was father to Joseph
Terry, Sr., whose only son was Joseph Terry, Jr., who
was born September, 1766, and died in this village in
January, 1852, aged eighty-six years.
Joseph Terry, Jr., held the office of Justice of the
Peace for thirty years, and that of Post-master for
twenty-eight years. He married Huldah, the daughter
of Am on and Sibil Taber, by whom he had six child
ren, viz : John Orville, born 1796 ; Henry Horace, born
1798 ; Helen, born in 1801 ; Caroline, born 1804 ; "Wil
liam and Samuel, twins, born 1811. Mrs. Terry, the
mother, died June, 1835.
John Terry, Jr. s, wife, the daughter of Nathaniel
Moore, was named Hannah. By her he had eight
children, viz: 1st. John, born 1698, died 1785; 2d.
Nathaniel, born in 1700 ; 3rd. Richard, born 1705 ; 4th.
Samuel, born 1706 ; 5th. Robert, born 1711. Daugh
ters were three, viz : Sally, born 1703 ; Hannah, born
1709 ; Abigail, born 1714.
John Terry, 3rd, married Martha Petty, by whom he
had ten children, viz : 1st. John, born 1730 ; 2d. Jo
seph, born 1732; 3rd. Nathaniel, born 1736; 4th.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 215
Mary, twin with Nathaniel ; 5th. Jeremiah, born 1738 ;
6th. Martha, born 1724 ; 7th. Bethia, born 1728 ; 8th.
Elizabeth, born 1741 ; 9th. Hannah, born 1743; 10th.
Mehitable, born 1745.
Joseph, the second son of John Terry, 3rd, and Mar
tha, his wife, married Sibyl King, by whom he had
seven children, viz : 1st. Sibyl, born!764 ; 2d. Joseph,
born 1766 ; 3rd. Prudence, born 1769 ; 4th. Died
young; 5th. do.; 6th. Mary, born 1778; 7th. Eliza
beth born 1781.
O
Thomas Moore, who died near Sterling, in 1803,
aged about seventy years, was for some time Supervisor,
which office, I believe, he held at the time of his death.
John Moore, of Rocky Point, his cotemporary, who
reared a large family of sons and daughters, was, we
understand, his near of akin. If so, Thomas Moore,
who died in 1691, and left his property to his two sons,
John and Nathaniel, was progenitor of Thomas, of
Sterling, and John, of Rocky Point. This John was
the son of John Moore, who was the son of Nathaniel
Moore, who was the son of Thomas, who died in 1691.
John Moore, of Rocky Point, married Mehitable,
daughter of John and Patience Havens. Patience was
the daughter of Deacon Daniel Tuthill. Thomas
Moore, of Sterling, married Mary, the daughter of
Jeremiah Vail, 3rd. Their children were, sons : 1st.
Thomas; 2d. Jonathan; 3rd. Benjamin; 4th. Jere
miah. Daughters : 1st. Jane; 2d. Nancy ; 3rd. Polly;
4th. Betsey. Jeremiah, the fourth son, who was a
colonel of militia, and a respectable farmer, died 21st
January, 1837.
216 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Ezekiel Aldridge, of Upper Acquebogue, aged sixty
years, is the son of the late Jason Aldridge, who died
in 1829, aged sixty years. Jason was the son of Ste
phen, who died in 1800, in his eighty -first year ; Stephen
was the grandson of Jacob or Gershom Aldridge, who
were of the first settlers of this town. Ezekiel mar
ried Mary, the daughter of the late Jared Griffin, be
fore mentioned.
4 John King, the first of his family to Oysterponds,
came from Plymouth, England, about the year 1650, or
near that date. He, with his household, settled on the
west part of what is now our village. Here he died,
leaving two sons, William and Samuel. He may have
had more children, but we are not informed. Samuel,
who died in 1721, aged eighty-nine years, must have
been his second son.
William left four sons, viz : 1st. John, whose wife
was Molly Corey.
2d. Zebulon, w T hose wife was Anna Hawk. She died
about 1774 ; he in 1776.
3rd. Samuel ; married Elizabeth Brown, of Rocky
Point, now East Marion.
4th. Ephraim, who married Elizabeth Vail.
Zebulon died in 1776 ; his wife in 1774. There are
none of his descendants of the name of King at this
time living in Orient. Ephraim, when over eighty-
four years of age, led the field as a reaper in harvesting
Major Nathaniel King s wheat. His co-laborors were
young, hearty men, bat this old gentleman was the
first amidst them in the field. There is now only one
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 217
family of his descendants residing here, viz : Ephraim
King, and he is of the fourth generation.
John Clark, of Greenport, is the son of John Clark,
Jr., who died at Mattituck in October, 1855, aged ninety-
three years. John Clark, Sr., died, aged about eighty-
five years, thirty years since. This John, Sr., was a son
or grandson of Thomas Clark, Jr., and Elizabeth, his
wife ; and Thomas, Jr., was the son of. Thomas Clark,
Sr., and Mary, his wife, who were with the early set
tlers of our town.
The families by the name of Clark now living at
East Marion, in this town are formerly from Connecti
cut. About the year 1T90, Francis Clark came to that
place, then called Rocky Point, with a wife and young
family of children. He was a blacksmith by trade,
and an industrious man. At his death, which was
some twenty odd years ago, he left three sons, viz :
Benjamin, Francis and Palmer ; and daughter Susan.
Palmer and Susan (a good woman) are gone to their
final rest.
Samuel Glover, Sr., who was a middle-aged man in
1698, was himself, or his father, the first of the family and
name that came to Southold. His wife s name was
Sarah. Their son, whose name was also Samuel, had a
wife, Martha. Samuel, Jr., we should say, was father
to Charles Glover, of Oysterponds, and whose wife was
Elizabeth Paine. She died in 1803, aged ninety-three
19
218 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
years. They had two daughters, viz : Lydia, who lived
to the age of about ninety-five years, and Elizabeth,
called Betsey, before noticed.
Lydia married Jonathan King, of Orient, and Eliza
beth married Jeremiah Tail, fourth, of the same place.
She was great-grandmother to my neighbor, the present
Gelston Tail. Mrs. Elizabeth Vail s husband was Jere
miah Yail, the fourth, as noticed reckoning from his
progenitor, Jeremiah Yail, the first, who came to
Orient about 1650, and settled at or near Oysterpond
Point, as it was then called. This first Jeremiah is the
ancestor of the Yails at Biverhead, East Marion, and
of this village. Many of the same family are scattered
in other parts of our wide-spread country. There was
a John Yail w T ho came and settled at Southold, in 1YOO,
and supposed to be not near akin to Jeremiah. This
John s descendents are many some at Southold, several
families in Orange county, and in other parts of the
country. Harvey W. Yail, of the town of Islip, in this
county, is a descendent of said John Yail.
Simon Glover, the brother of Charles Glover, died
of small-pox about 1760. He left a son, Ezekiel, who
married Mary, the daughter of John Terry, third. This
Ezekiel Glover, Sen., was father to Ezekiel Glover, Jr.,
and Jeremiah, Charles, and Mary. Ezekiel, Jr. s, wife
was Phebe. daughter of Richard and Zipporah, Brown.
Their children were 1st, Erastus ; 2d, Jeremiah ; 3d,
Warren, 4th, James; 5th, David Tuthill; 6th, Eze-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 219
kiel ; 7th, Phebe ; 8th, Jemima. Mrs. Phebe Glover
died August, 1855, in her ninty-first year.
Charles Glover, I have said, had two daughters ; he
likewise had one son, whose name was Grover. Being
an only son, he was delicately reared up, the beloved
of his mother. He lived a bachelor. He died in 1803,
aged sixty-one years, believing himself the true heir of
the Hon. Richard Glover, Member of the British Par
liament, who died in 1785, leaving a very large estate,
and no heirs of his body in England.
Edward Petty, the first of the family of that name to
Oysterponds, was living in 1682.
Joseph Petty, who died in the summer of 1787, aged
about seventy, was, we believe, the son of Joseph and
Mary Petty, who were middle-aged people in 1698.
This Joseph was son to John arid Mary Petty, or
Edward Petty, of the same family. John and Edward
were owners of the farm in this place, now in the pos
session of their descendents of the fifth generation.
Joseph, first mentioned, who died in 1787, married
Miss Bradley, by w r hom he had eight children, viz. :
1st, Mehitable ; 2d, Mary ; 3d, Jemima ; 4th, Hannah ;
5th, Joseph ; 6th, Daniel ; 7th, Jonathan ; 8th, David.
These children were born betwixt the years 1750 and
1768. All lived to have families ; and in 1830 these
eight sons and daughters were all deceased. . The
property of Edward was assessed, September 16th,
1675, at 95.
The present Thomas Petty is the son of David Petty,
Jr., who is the son of the late David Petty, Sen., who
220 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
was the son of Joseph Petty, second, who was the son
of John Petty, who was the son of John or Edward
Petty making him of the sixth generation.
Jeremiah Tail (or Yeale, as it was spelt by the first
of that family to this town) came to Oysterponds about
the year 1650. Some short time after his arrival here,
he purchased the farm adjoining Plumgut, known as the
point farm, now in the possession of the heirs of the late
Jonathan F. Latham. Of Jeremiah Tail, Jr., and how
much of a family he had, we are not able to say. His
son, Jeremiah Vail, third, left a large family, whose
descendents are scattered in many parts of our laud.
Jeremiah Yail, third, died in 1749, aged thirty-nine
years. He had, by his wife Mary, nine children, whose
names were 1st, Peter ; 2d, Stephen ; 3d, Abraham ;
4th, Jeremiah ; 5th, Joshua ; 6th, David ; 7th, Thomas ;
8th, Mary ; and 9th, Mehitable.
Thomas married Hannah, the only daughter of Rich
ard Brown, third, and Hannah, his wife, who was Han
nah Hawk when a girl.
Abraham married Betsey Lee, the daughter of Rev.
Mr. Lee who was sometime the preacher and minister
of Oysterponds.
Not far from 1772, Captain Thomas Yail, as he was
called, and his brother, Abraham Yail, with their fami
lies, moved into the State of Yermont. I think it was
in or near the town of Pomphret where they first
located, and where now a number of their descendents
are living.
Stephen Yail married Hannah Petty. Their children
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 221
were 1st, Stephen, Jr. ; 2d, Thomas ; 3d, Joseph ; 4th,
Daniel.
Stephen Vail, Jr., married Ruth, the daughter of
Jonathan and Lydia Terry.
Thomas Yail married Abigail Dudley.
Joseph Yail married Desire Beebe.
Daniel Yail married Jemima Beebe.
Peter Yail, son to Jeremiah Yail, third, was born
March 25, 1722, and married Martha, daughter of John
Terry, third, who was born in 1724, by whom he had
eight children, viz. : 1st son was Peter, born 1754 ; 2d,
Silas ; 3d, James ; 4th, Nathaniel ; daughters, viz. : 1st,
Esther ; 2d, Mary ; 3d, Mehitable ; 4th, Sally.
Peter Yail, Jr., married Thankful, the daughter of
John Griffin, Jr., of Riverhead, N. Y. She was born
in 1752. Their children were nine in number, viz. :
Thankful, John, Peter, Silas, Sarah, Jasper, Charles,
Patty, and Gamaliel.
Charles, the fifth son, by his wife Betsey, has had
twelve children, viz. : William, Peter, Eliza, Sally, Hi
ram, infant, (died,) Louisa, Nancy, Jane, James, Susan,
and Daniel.
He was about eight years old, when himself, with his
brothers and sisters, were deprived of their father by
death. Their mother, a strong-minded woman, left with
the most limited means, supported and reared nine
children.
Charles Yail is the son of Peter Yail, Jr., who was
the son of Peter Yail, Sen., who was the son of Jere
miah Yail, third, who was the son of Jeremiah Yail,
Jr., who was the son of Jeremiah Vail, Sen., the first
19*
222 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
of the family and name to the State of Yermont
making him the sixth generation.
Died, on Staten Island, on 3d February, 1853, Daniel
Hull Wickham, in the eighty-third year of his age a
native of this town in which his father, a very re
spectable member of the community, died near the
close of the Revolutionary War, leaving a widow, with
three sons and four daughters. Daniel, above noticed,
was at the time not more than eight or nine years of
age. Mr. Wickham, the father, whose name was Jo
seph, was one of five brothers, respectable townsmen.
The names of these brothers were, viz. : Joseph, Parker,
John, Thomas, and Hull. Joseph, Parker, and John
were permanent residents of Southold during their lives.
Parker, who was known as Major Wickham, died soon
after the war of the Revolution. John lived to an ad
vanced life. Daniel was a man of liberal education
and of sound piety. He left two sons one a clergy
man, the other a goldsmith.
Thomas settled in Orange County, near Goshen. He
became greatly respected as a physician. He died
near the year 1794, leaving a widow, two sons, John
and Thomas, and a daughter. One of the sons, John,
was a lawyer of much promise ; but he died ere he
attained thirty-five years.
Hull Wickham, the fifth of the brothers, was a bach
elor, with the affable address of the old school. He
died not far from 1790.
There was a Joseph Wickham, Sen., and Sarah, his
wife, who were lining at Southampton in 1698. We
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL 223
believe they were the grand-parents of these live sons,
as this must have been forty years before the five
brothers were born. Joseph and Sarah had a son at
the time, who was Joseph Wickham, Jr. This son
must have been their father.
Joseph Wickham, Esq., eldest son of Major Parker
Wickham, was bred to the law. After the Revolution,
he went to London, and boldly petitioned George III.
for redress for his father s suffering in the war. He re
ceived attention to his address ; was well rewarded for
his visit to Europe of a year or two ; returned with a
sufficiency to make his after days comfortable, as to a
competency. Soon after his return he married Phebe,
the youngest daughter of Dr. Micah Moore.
Joseph Wickham, Esq., died in 1806.
Capt. Thomas Wickham, brother to Joseph, died at
Mattituck in 1846.
John Wickham, Esq., who died in 1836, at Eich-
mond, Ya., was the son of John Wickham of Cut-
chogue. He stood high in his profession, and was
greatly respected as a counsellor and an orator. He
particularly distinguished himself as one of the counsel
for Col. Burr, when tried for treason in that city in 1804.
Captain Henry King was the second son of Benjamin
and Betsey King, of Oysterponds. Capt. King was,
for a number of years, commander of a ship sailing from
Philadelphia, and was held in high estimation by those
who knew him. He died in Philadelphia, in 1801,
leaving a young widow. At the time of his death he
left about nine thousand dollars, the avails of strict
industry.
224 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Elisha King was the son of Samuel and Hannah
King, of Oysterponds. He too commanded a ship,
from the same city, some years. He was a man of
handsome acquirements, self-taught. He died near 1828.
John Brown, now in his seventy-eighth year, some
thirty years ago commanded the iine ship Douglas, of
New York, for several voyages, with much satisfaction
to her owner.
Robert Harlow, of Oysterponds, commanded a ship
from the city of Philadelphia. He was of prepossessing
address, and much esteemed. He died some years since,
on Shelter Island.
David Terry, of Oysterponds, and son to the late
Col. Thomas Terry, was a valuable ship-master, from
Newbern, North Carolina. He was lost at sea, with
vessel and cargo.
John Paine was the first of the family of that name
to Southold, from Europe, as early as 1660. This man
must have been the father of Alsop Paine, who was
born in 1700, and died in 1796, aged ninety-seven years.
His property was assessed on September 16th, 1675, at
119 105. He had two sons, viz. : Benjamin and John.
Benjamin died in 1781, and his wife near that time,
leaving a family of two or three children. John died
August 15th, 1815.^
The late Mr. Phineas Paine, of Southold, was the
fifth or sixth son of John. Phineas was a very worthy
member of society. He died suddenly, without a mo
ment s sickness, in May, 1849, in his eighty-first year.
Charles II. and Hubbard Paine are his sons, of the sixth
generation.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 225
Thomas Terry, noticed before, came to Southold not
far from 1660. From old writings I have seen, I think
he came some five or more years before that date. An
assessment of his property was taken September 16th,
1675 ; amount, 129 10s. Jonathan, who was born
forty-three years after this assessment, must, with his
brothers, have been grandsons to this first Thomas
Terry. Thomas Terry, Jr., was father to Thomas Terry,
third, Jonathan, and William. The first of these three
brothers came in possession of the homestead estate.
The third son had three sons, viz. : Thomas, William,
and Jonathan. William settled in New Jersey. Two
of this William s sons,. John and William, came to Long
Island ; the first to Acquebogue, where he died some
years since, in advanced life. Major John Terry, who
is at this time more than eighty-four years of age, owns
the homestead. William settled near Moriches, where
he died some years since. Thomas remained in New
Jersey, where he died an aged man, having been mar
ried four times. Jonathan has been particularly noticed.
Mathias Corwin, who came to Southold in 1640, was
no doubt father to John Corwin, whose assessment of
his estate was taken September 16th, 1675, at 228 10s.
Deacon Barnabas Corwin, of Franklinville, near Mat-
tituck, is about the sixth generation from Matthias Cor
win, the first of the name and family to this country.
The deacon is an ornament and a pillar in the church.
His good wife was the daughter of Caleb Coleman, of
Goshen, Orange County. He has a brother at New
Windsor, Orange County. Thomas, known as Uncle
226 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Tom Corwin, now living at Greenpoint, is another
brother.
The late Hon. Usher H. Moore, Jr., of Riverhead, L.
I., was for several years a representative in the Assem
bly of this State, and a member of the Convention
chosen to frame the Constitution of this State, in 1821.
Usher II. Moore, Sen., was. a soldier of the Revolu
tion. My father and Christopher Tuthill, of Oyster-
ponds, were with him at the battle on Long Island, in
1776. I have heard them say that he displayed true
bravery and undaunted fortitude on that occasion. Mr.
Tuthill also added that Mr. Moore was one of the hand
somest men he ever saw.
Chauncey W. and John T. Moore, sons of Usher H.
Moore, Jr., are at this time of the most respectable and
responsible merchants in the city of NQW York.
John Booth came to Southold in the year 1656. He
was the first of the family of his name. Thomas Booth,
we believe, was his son, who, with his wife Mary, were
middle-aged people in 1698.
Daniel Booth, who was born in 1700, was uncle or
father to Lieut. Constant Booth, who kept an inn in the
years 1755, 6, 7, and 8, at what is now Greenport.
The present Henry Booth is the son of the late Henry
R. Booth, who was the son of Captain Joseph Booth,
who was the son of Lieut. Constant Booth, who was the
son of John Booth, who was the son of Thomas Booth,
who was the son of the said first John Booth.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 227
John B. Booth, Esq., of Bellevue, Jackson County,
Iowa, is a descend ent, in a regular line, from John
Booth, Sen., who, with his family, was living at this
town in 1698. His grand-father was a nephew to Lieut.
Constant Booth.
In the year 1757, Gen. Washington, then Colonel,
was at Sterling, (Greenport,) in this town. He was on
his way to New London and Boston. He stopped for
several hours at the inn then kept by Lieut. Constant
Booth, which house yet stands, a few rods east of the
Presbyterian Church. In the sitting room, in which
Colonel Washington passed his time while at -this place,
were live or six young ladies, two of them daughters of
Mr. Booth, viz., Hannah and Mary Booth, and Misses
Mary Havens and Mary Youngs ; the latter a sister of
the late Judge Thomas Youngs. Braddock s disastrous
battle and defeat, with the French and Indians, had
then lately taken place, and young Washington s con
summate judgment and cool heroism displayed on that
occasion, were known and appreciated as well by his
countrywomen as men. His reputation, as a gentle
man and officer, was not second to any American in the
colonies. Chance had brought him in the presence of
these young women, and they observed and conversed
with him with pride and much pleasure.
From Miss Havens I received my information of this
interesting interview, and personal appearance at that
time of this truly great man, whom Providence, it seerns,
had then designed should soon be regarded as "first in
war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his country-
2 8 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
men." Thirty years after this, he had, without a dis
senting voice, become all this. She described him in
person as rather tall and slender, but straight, and very
dignified ; perfectly affable, fair complection, a placid,
even cast of countenance, and brilliant eye ; mild in his
deportment, with a pleasing, graceful manner. This ac
count by Miss Havens is in accordance with the historian
Irving s account of him. He made himself quite at home,
and passed two or three hours in their immediate company.
When his servant announced to him that the boat, which
was to take him across the sound, was ready, he soon
rose from his chair, and with much grace, in turn took
each lady by the hand, saluted her with a kiss, and
gravely asked their prayers, and bade them an affec
tionate adieu.
Miss Havens was a daughter of Constant Havens, of
Hogneck, in the town of Southampton. She afterwards
became the wife of Mr. Nathaniel Tuthill, of Oyster-
ponds, (now Orient,) by whom she had five daughters,
the youngest of whom was Lucretia, the affectionate
and excellent wife of the writer of this incident.
Mary Booth afterwards married, and one of her grand
sons is the present William Austin Overton. of South-
old, a son of the late Eleazer Overtoil, and nephew to
the Rev. Isaac Overton, who died in 1799, and Gen.
Seth Overton, who died in Portland, Conn., in 1852,
aged ninety -three years.
About two years previous to this, (viz. 1755,) Dr.
Benjamin Franklin passed through this island, from
Brooklyn, to Southold Harbor, and in a carriage of his
own construction. It was so contrived, with clock work
or machinery of peculiar make, that a bell would be
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 229
struck at the termination of every twenty rods. By
this means, the Doctor measured the distance accu
rately his object, no doubt, being to ascertain the
length of the isiand ; and it seems a little strange that
he did not proceed to the end. He stopped at the inn
of my grandfather, Samuel Griffin, at the Harbor,* and
who took him, the following day, across the Sound to
New London. The Doctor w T as on his way to Boston
to visit his widowed mother.
The dwelling house now owned and occupied by
Jonathan Goldsmith Horton, is probably the oldest in
the town. Barnabas Horton, one of the first settlers of
the town, built the east part of the said house, about
the year 1660, which was twenty years after his first
landing at Southold. He was, at the time of his build
ing said house, sixty years of age. His youngest son,
Jonathan, built the west part some few years after.
The east part of this house, therefore, has stood one
hundred and ninety-five years !
It may not be uninteresting to many of my fellow-
townsmen to know that in the year 1706, in this house,
were married Henry Tuthill to Bethia Horton, and
Daniel Tuthill to Mehitable Ilorton. Henry and Dan
iel were brothers, and grandsons of the first John Tut
hill, and Bethia and Mehitable grand-daughters of the
said first Barnabas Horton.
The first house for religious worship in Southold was
built in 1642, and was also used to hold law courts in.
* One hundred miles from Brooklyn, as the road was at that day.
20
230 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
The benches on which the judges sat are now to be seen
in the possession of Mr. ITorton. The native Indians
were considered, by some, dangerous enemies of the
white man, and gave the then few inhabitants much
trouble. It was usual to take the fire-arms even to
this place of worship, for defence against sudden surprise.
In the inside of this primitive church there were boards
with notches in them for the purpose, and used to stand
the guns of the worshipers against during divine ser
vice.
Mr. Horton has also some of these boards, in a good
state of preservation, although prepared more than two
hundred years ago. We of this day have a very im
perfect conception of the inconveniences, privations,
and gloom experienced in those times.
Rev. Timothy Wells, before noticed, was of Cutcho-
gue until he accepted a call to take charge and preside
over the church at Upper Acquebogue, about the year
1759. The members of this church had separated from
the old Acquebogue church, some three or four years
previous to this time. For this act, they were called
" Separates ;" and by many of those from whom they
had withdrawn, called " New-lights." As a body, they
were a very devout people. Their meetings, which
were often and well attended, were full of brotherly
love and Christian harmony. Previous to Mr. Wells
taking charge of the Society, they had no stated preach
ing. A Rev. Mr. Paine, Rev. Mr. Lee, and Rev. Sam
uel Sweezy occasionally ministered to them. To their
small number, there were almost weekly additions of
sound and sincere Gospel believers.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 231
Mr. Wells was a man of a strong, sound mind, and
his sterling piety and exemplary life was without re
proach. He left, at his decease, a widow and four chil
dren, viz. : Timothy, Richard, Elijah, and Deborah.
This daughter married Samuel Tuthill, of Cutchogue.
Richard and Elijah moved into Orange County, and
were respectable farmers.
Timothy, Jr., was for some time a deacon of the church
of Cutchogue, over which Rev. Zachariah Green pre
sided, with much satisfaction. Deacon Timothy was a
man of sound principles, and a pious pillar in the church.
He died near 1800, leaving a widosv and three children,
viz. : John, Polly, and another daughter.
A great-grandson of the Rev. Timothy Wells is now
living at Mattituck, on the farm once the property of
Mr. John Gardiner. This great-grandson, John Wells,
Jr., now owns a large part of said farm. We believe
he is a worthy descendent of his reverend ancestor, who
was of the fourth generation from Henry Wells, Esq.,
the first of the family and name to Southold.
The present Ira Tuthill, of Mattituck, is the son ol
the late Jesse Tuthill, who was the son of Samuel
Tuthill, who was the son of Joshua Tuthill, Jr., who
was the son of Joshua Tuthill, Sen., who was the son
of James Tuthill, who was the son of John Tuthill,
Sen., who first came to Southold, as before stated.
Our friend, this Ira Tuthill, is the seventh generation,
counting from the Pilgrim Father, and so is the present
Ira B. Tuthill, son of the late Daniel Tuthill, of Cut-
c hogue.
232 GBJFFIN S JOURNAL.
William Solomon, of Soutliold, was the son, or grand
son, of William Solomon, who was, with his family,
living in the town in 1698. William s household consisted
of a number of sons and daughters, all young and pro
mising, about the years 1760 to 1775, viz : 1st. Jona
than ; 2d. Phineas; 3d. Gideon; 4th. William; 5th.
John; 6th. Joshua ; and daughters Polly and Hannah.
Gideon kept a respectable tavern at New Windsor,
in 1790 ; Jonathan settled in Blooming Grove, Orange
county ; John lived at Newburgh ; Phineas located
somewhere in Pennsylvania.
Hannah married a Zacheus Case, near the village of
Gosheii ; Polly married a Mr. Reeve, at South old.
William Solomon, the father of this family, died
near 1800. John Solomon, who died in 1762, aged
sixty-years, gave a house and lands to the parish of
Soutliold. I believe he was never married.
The Southold and Huntington family of Y ail s are
descendents of John Yail, who came to this town from
Wales, in the year 1700. He was born near 1670. He
was a pious man, and died about the year 1760. His
children were 1st. John ; 2d. Benjamin ; 3rd. Peter;
4th. Obediah ; 5th. Jonathan ; 6th. Jeremiah ; 7th.
Hannah; 8th. Mary; 9th. Martha; 10th. Amitta.
It was John Yail, a soldier, the first son and child of
the senior John Yail, that knocked down a British offi
cer Col. Bradstreet at the peril of his life. This
bold daring was in the French War, previous to the
devolution. Although in humble life, he was prover
bial for his bravery and personal courage when honor
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 233
and truth were at stake. He made this daring effort
to vindicate his honor, although himself but a humble
soldier. Col. Bradstreet called Yail " a Yankee liar."
This John Yail lived to see his ninety-first year. He
had commanded a vessel in his younger days, which,
in after life, gave him the appellation of Captain J.
Yail. His look was peculiar, being cross-eyed. As a
votary of truth, I doubt whether he ever had his supe
rior.
Russel Yail, of Southold, is grandson to Peter Yail,
who was the third son of John Yail, the 1st. Joseph
H. Goldsmith, Esq., of the same place, is, on the ma
ternal side, great-grandson to John Yail, Jr., the man
who, while in a humble station, would not take an in
sult from a British colonel.
His mother was Mary, the third child of Captain
Elisha Yail, who was third child of the second John
Yail.
Addison Goldsmith, the brother of Joseph H., was
the second son of Zacheus and Mary Goldsmith. He
was born in 1803, and died suddenly at Laporte, Indi
ana, August 5, 1838. He was a young man of pro
found erudition, amiable, and of great promise. He
had but just completed his studies as a physician ; his
prospects were fair, and a hope of future usefulness
gave, solid consolation to his humane and Howard-like
heart.
James and John Prince were brothers. John settled
in Southold, where he died in 1765, aged seventy-eight
20*
234 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
years ; he was born in 1687. We do not know whether
his brother James ever came to America. Joseph
Prince, an inhabitant of Southold, was John s son, and
was born in 1719 ; died in 1805, in his eighty-fifth
year. His family consisted of four sons, viz : 1st.
John; 2d. Joseph; 3rd. Benjamin; and 4th. Thomas.
John Prince, Joseph s first son, had three sons, viz :
John, Ezra and Martin. Ezra died in 1824. His wife
was Phoebe Horton, by whom he had two sons, viz :
Albert and Grin ; daughters Martha, Betsey, Lucre-
tia, Phoabe and Ann. Orin was born November 14,
1816 ; was married to my grand-daughter, Maria L.
Wells, January 17, 1839.
Nathaniel Tutliill, Sr., before noticed as the son of
Freegift Tuthill, died September 16, 1803, in his seventy-
third year. His wife, Martha, but called Patty, was
the daughter of Joseph Wickham, of this town. She
was sister to Daniel H. Wickham, Esq., also before no
ticed. The present Hector Craig Tuthill, now living at
Kellogsville, in Cayuga county, is the son of said Na
thaniel.
Isaac Hubbard was the first, or the son of the first,
of that family to this town. He was born 1694, and
died in 1771, aged seventy-seven years. His wife was
Bethia Goldsmith, we believe of the family of Zacheus
Goldsmith, settled at Southold near 1690. They had
sons, viz : 1st. Richard Stears ; 2d. William ; 3rd.
Isaac ; 4th. John ; 5th. Thomas. Richard S. died in
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 235
1796, aged seventy-two years ; William, a merchant at
Southold village, where he died in 1771, in his forty-
fourth year ; Isaac, third son, died at Tarpaulian Cove,
Massachusetts, where a stone marks his grave ; Tho
mas, fourth son, died at Guilford, Connecticut, aged
about twenty years ; John, fifth son, kept a tavern at
Mattituck, where he died in 1775, in his thirty-sixth
year. His eldest son, John Hubbard, Jr., succeeded his
father, inheriting the homestead, where he kept an inn
from the year 1776 to 1826. Jefferson and Madison
were his guests for a day, about the year 1785 or 86.
Richard S. Hubbard, first son of Isaac and Bethia,
was a most worthy member of the church. He had
three sons, viz : Richard S., Daniel and Benjamin.
Richard S. Hubbard, Jr., was a man of sound and
marked piety. He was some years a Deacon of Rut
gers Church, in New York, which office he held at the
time of his death, in 1821, aged seventy years. The
second son was Daniel Hubbard, an honest, bold man.
"When a young man, he was taken while in an Ameri
can privateer, and confined on board of one of the
prison-ships in Xew York. He survived as by a mira
cle that horrid confinement. Afterwards, he went as
first mate of a ship to the East Indies, from which he
returned in less than two years as captain of the same
ship. Later in his life he married, and for some years
was a respectable inspector of beef and pork. His sun
of life set in a cloud Ijf died suddenly, a disappointed
man.
Benjamin, the third son, died not much over twenty-
two years of age.
William, second son of Isaac and Bethia, had four
236 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
sons, viz : 1st. William ; 2d. John ; 3rd. Butler ; and
4th. Nathaniel. The second, third and fourth followed
the sea ; the second and fourth were drowned. The
first, William, was a very respectable clerk in a count
ing-house in Philadelphia for many years. Some few
years before his death, he was clerk in a large sugar
house in New York. He died over seventy years of
age, a respectable bachelor.
Nathaniel T. Hubbard, now of the city of New
York, is the oldest son of the late Deacon Kichard S.
Hubbard, of Rutgers Church, of that city. Mr. Hub-
bard is, and has been for some years past, doing a large
business as a provision merchant more so in that line
than any other house in our country ; perhaps, in the
world. To his parents, he manifested all the graces
inherited by Joseph of old. To his brothers and sis
ters, he, at all times, has shown a heart susceptible of
all that is good, kind and affectionate. His family con
sists of a wife of endearing virtue, three sons, viz :
Samuel, William and Cyrus ; daughters Susan, Mary,
Louisa and Josephine.
Moses Case, of Cutchogue, died September 25th,
1814, aged ninety-one years. He was known as Lieut.
Moses Case, a worthy member of the community. He
left three sons, viz. : Gilbert, Luther, and Matthias all
deserving the esteem of those Appreciating the value of
integrity and humanity. Luther left sons, Ebenezer
W. and Joseph Wickham, and several daughters. Ebe
nezer W. was a man of extensive information served
his town and county as a supervisor, town clerk, repre-
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 237
sentative in the Assembly of the State, judge, and sur
rogate. He died on the first of March, 18M. Joseph
"Wickham is also a man of good attainments, and has
filled several town and county offices. Matthias, the
third son of Lieut. Case, died in October, 1831. He
left a widow, who was, previous to her marriage, Julia,
the second daughter of Dr. Mi call Moore, both before
noticed, and four children 1st, Hutchinson H. ; 2d,
Albert G. ; 3d, Jernslia ; and 4th, Maria.
Lieut. Case was the son of Benjamin Case, who was
the son of Theopliolis Case, who was son to the first of
that family and name to this town, about 1660.
Elisha Mulford settled at Oysterponds, with his fam
ily, in April, 1805. He was a descendent of John
Mulford, who was one of the first settlers of Easthamp-
ton, in this county, in 1648. Mr. Mulford was a valu
able member of society, and for many years previous
to his death, a deacon in the church in this village.
He died August llth, 1828, in his seventy-ninth year,
leaving a wife and six children, viz. : Phebe, Polly,
Jerusha, and Fanny ; sons, Sylvanus and Elisha.
Sylvanus, the oldest son, about the yea-r 1816 removed
to and located himself at Montrose, in Pennsylvania.
At that place he has resided forty years, has reared an
interesting family, and been successful in life.
Elisha, the second son, owns and occupies the old
homestead, and is, of respectable consideration, a wor
thy man. His wife is the grand-daughter of the late
Col. Thomas Terry, who was formerly the owner of the
same farm, as before noticed, then about two hundred
238 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
and ten acres. His children are 1st, Fanny Lncella ;
2d; Betsey Ann; 3d, Benjamin King; 4th, Elisha
Hampton.
Lewis A. Edwards, of this village, is the eighth gene
ration from William Edwards, who was one of the first
settlers of Easthampton, in the year 1648.
The history of this gentleman is a happy illustration
of our government and laws, when aided by talent, in
tegrity, and industry. From indigence, he has arisen
to opulence under the benign influence of this fortunate
combination of individual worth with civil immunities.
John Conkline, who, with his household, made one
of the memorable families heretofore noticed, died April
6th, 1694, aged sixty-three years. Jonathan Conkline,
late of the village of Southold, whose sons were Benja
min and Augustus, was the fifth generation from the
above said John. The late Dr. David Conkline, of Ac-
quebogue, was also a descendent of the said John.
About the year 1796, Captain Matthew Tuthill, a
young man of sterling industry and trust, commenced
running a handsome sloop, the Seaflower, weekly, from
this place to New York, with freight and passengers.
This he continued to do with success and satisfaction
for more than twelve years.
Capt. Tuthill was one of twelve children, of Christo
pher and Phebe Tuthill. Their youngest, a daughter,
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 239
died when over thirty years of age. He died in Janu
ary, 1812, leaving a widow and two children a son,
Howel, and a daughter, Phebe. Howel is now Presi
dent of a Bank in Elmira, Tioga county, and Phebe
is respectably married, and residing in the same town.
Jonathan Terry, known as Captain Jonathan Terry,
who died July 22d, 1820, aged fifty years, and his bro
ther, Jesse, who died February 3d, 1831, for many years
sailed handsome coasting vessels from this village.
These Messrs. Terry were patterns of industry, pru
dence, and of business habits ; moral rectitude marked
all their dealings. They were the sons of Jonathan
Terry, Jr., who was the son of Thomas Terry, third, who
was the son of Thomas Terry, second, who was the son
of Thomas Terry, first.
Daniel Beebe sailed a handsome packet sloop, once
a week, to New York, from this place, for fourteen
years, viz.: from 1818 to 1832. In 1832 he sold his
vessel, and purchased a farm on Southold Hogneck,
where he now resides in domestic quiet.
Captain Beebe is the son of the late Nathan Beebe,
Jr., who was the son of Nathan Beebe, Sen., who was
the son of Samuel Beebe, Jr., who was the son of Sam
uel Beebe, Sen., who was the son of Joseph Beebe, who
came from Plymouth, as before noticed.
About one hundred and fifty rods, in a north-easterly
240 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
course, from the stately t dwelling of Lewis A. Edwards, on
the banks of the Sound, and within fifteen rods of what is
called Little Munn Pond, in the year 1819, a vessel was
built of about one hundred tons. Her owners were Rich
ard Jerome, Matthew Gardner, and Capt. Caleb Dyer.
She was of beautiful draught, schooner-rigged, and
called " Enterprise." Although the beach over which
she was to glide into her destined element was very
rocky, yet she was launched, and no accident happened.
This was rather a novel spot to build a vessel, as all
will see who visit the site.
About 1Y55 a Mr. Munn, a taylor by trade, owned
and lived in a house which stood within twenty rods of
where this vessel was built. It w r as removed or taken
down some years before the war of the Revolution.
Hence the name of the large and small pieces of water
there.
Capt. Caleb Dyer commanded the above schooner
for the first year, sailing to and from Boston. Captain
Grant B. Racket took charge of her in 1821. Some
years after this he commanded the schooner Lagrange,
in which he followed, very successfully, the southern
trade. Capt. Racket died suddenly, in Charleston, S.
C., in 1832. In the spring of 1833, his body was brought
to this place and buried.
Capt. Dyer died in November, 1852, in his seventy-
fourth year. He had, for the most part of the last forty-
five years of his life, commanded several line coasting
vessels to New York, Boston, Newport, and Nantucket.
At one time, which was on the 12th of December, 1839,
he took about four tons of pork, besides other articles,
to Nantucket, from this village.
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. . 241
In 1798 he came to Oysterponds, in his twentieth
year, at the time owing his step-father, Mr. Asa Smith,
twenty or more dollars for his time. About 1801 he
niarfied Mehitable, a daughter of Christopher and Han
nah Brown, by whom he had five children, viz. : Laura,
Kosetta B., Elizabeth B., Henry, and Hubble. On the
20th of August, 1844, Mrs. Dyer, the mother, departed
this life. On the 26th of June, 1845, Capt. Dyer mar
ried his second wife Julia, the daughter of Elias Terry.
She is now his widow, with two interesting boys.
Capt. Dyer was the son of Caleb Dyer, Esq., of New
London, Conn. In 1780 he was sailing-master of the
American frigate Shelaila, of thirty-six guns. She
sailed that year on a cruise, w r ith a crew of four hun
dred or more men. After she left port, neither she nor
any one of that number were ever heard of after.
In my previous notices of the ship-captains which this
small village has raised, I omitted the name of Robert
Brown, a native of this village, and who is now com
manding a regular fine packet to the South. Captain
Brown is a noble, whole-souled gentleman of the old
school.
Edmund P. Brown, of this village, is the son of Dea
con Peter Brown, who was the son of Christopher
Brown, who was the son of Ensign Richard Brown,
third, who was the son of Richard Brown, Jr., (who
held a commission as militia captain under George II.,)
who was son to Richard Brown, first, who died in 1806.
He, too, has commanded several noble ships in the
21
242 GEIFFIN S JOURNAL.
whaling and mercantile line, with profit to himself and
owners. In one of his voyages, Captain Brown paid
his owners forty per cent, on their capital advanced.
Although but about forty years of age, he has circum
navigated the globe four times, and doubled Cape Horn
ten times, as master.
The first packet sloop which made weekly trips from
Southold to New York, after the war of 1812, was the
Juno, commanded by Captain Benjamin Wells. This
was in 1816. In 1818, he sailed the sloop Suffolk ; in
1822, he took charge of the sloop George ; in 1825, the
sloop Regulator; in 1828, the sloop Superior; and in
1844, the sloop Swallow, which, with success, he sailed
until 1852, when he retired to his farm in the village of
Southold. Captain Wells is the sixth generation from
William Wells, of 1640.
William Booth, a lineal descendant of John Booth,
who came to Southold in 1656, and one of the most ac
commodating of men, sailed the sloop Prudence some
fifteen years to New York, weekly, from Southold.
Lion Gardner, late of Southold, N. Y., was born near
1740 ; died about 1810. He was born poor lived and
died poor ; and, but for the strength of his body, would
not have been remembered beyond his generation. In
1773 and 74, he lived at Rocky Point, about thirty
rods south-east of what is called the Dam Bridge. He
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL. 243
was a blacksmith by trade ; a very honest man. Had
a wife and four or five children ; stood more than six
feet high ; athletic, but not fleshy at all times careful
not to show his strength, except when excited by li
quor, of which he was fond. On one of these occa
sions, he consented to have placed on his back ten
bushels of good wheat, with which he walked oif as
easy as Sampson carried off the gates of the Philis
tines. On another occasion, assisting a neighbor to
catch a horse, while attempting to seize the mane, the
horse leaped a string-board fence, which, as he cleared,
Gardner caught its tail, by which he brought the horse
back, fence and all. On another time, a large ox cart,
which must have weighed over a ton, with eight men
on it, Gardner lifted clear of the ground ; another time
while at work in his shop, and off his guard, three
stout men seized him, two by each leg behind, and the
third jumped on his back. In short order, with his
two hands, he crushed to the ground the two on his
legs, and then pulled the one off his back, placing him
on the others.
John Seaman, one of the early settlers of Hempstead,
Long Island, came from Essex, England, about 1650.
He landed at Boston, at the time being an apprentice,
and with his master, a house carpenter. At the age of
twenty-one years he left Boston, and came to Hemp-
stead, Long Island, which then contained but a very
few white inhabitants. As soon as the inhabitants had
increased in numbers sufficient to warrant it necessary,
he was chosen a captain of militia, and soon after a jus-
244 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
tice of the peace. The Indians were now and then
jealous, and showed indications of doing mischief. Those
difficulties were always settled by Capt. Seaman, whom
the natives appeared to love and venerate.
He, Seaman, married and became the father of eight
sons and eight daughters, all of whom lived to be mar
ried and have families except one. His posterity, now
of about the seventh and eighth generations, are nu
merous, and among the most respectable of our State,
and the counties of Suffolk and Queens.
Captain Seaman and six of his sons were patentees in
the town of Hempstead, in the year 1660.
"While he held the office of magistrate, the Society of
Friends, in his vicinity, were much ill treated. In him
they at all times found a confiding friend. Although
not of their Society, he was a charitable and just
magistrate.
Silas Carl, of Westbury, near Hempstead, a man of
great wealth and consideration in the Society of Friends,
married Elizabeth Seaman, a descendent of the seventh
generation from John Seaman, the pilgrim father.
APPENDIX
21*
APPENDIX
A HEARTLESS FKIEND.
Tlie friendship of some people (may I not say many?)
is like our shadows plain and close to us when the sun
shines clear ; but the moment we get into the shade, it
deserts us. So in the bright sun of prosperity, we are
surrounded with friends, and inundated with civilities ;
but let a cloud of misfortune and adversity overshadow
us, and where are they !
OBITUARY.
Died, on the evening of the 21st hist., at the resi
dence of his son-in-law, in the city of New York,
Benjamin F. Thompson, Esq., Counsellor at Law, of an
illness of about three-fourths of an hour, supposed to
have been a disease of the heart or stomach, aged
sixty-four years. The remains were brought to his
residence in Hempstead, and on Saturday, at one
o clock, P. M., followed by a numerous and wide
spread portion of the community to his grave, by the
side of that of his deceased son, Henry, in his own
248 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
burying-ground, adjoining the Presbyterian Church
yard.
Perhaps there never lived in our county an individual
whose death cast a more general gloom over the minds
of its inhabitants. ~Not that he was less liable to our
common destiny than every other of his race, but that
he was so well beloved and so extensively known, and
called, too, in apparent usual health, in the very act of
professional employment in the midst of his useful
ness the vigor of his cultivated intellect unimpaired
the vast stores of his knowledge in constant accumula
tion the eye yet undimrned, and his natural strength
unabated. Society at home and abroad were indeed
saddened ; and well might we feel humbled, and take
upon ourselves the insignia of grief, for no ordinary
citizen, companion, or friend has been taken from us.
It were no injustice to the living or the dead to assert
that his rival for lasting, laudable fame, has not yet
been born or bred upon our island. Comparisons we
know are invidious ; it is not now designed to institute
such a judgment, nor does the occasion require it. The
worth of such a man to the age and community in
which he lived, is best appreciated when we realize
the difficulty of filling as faithfully the space now vacant
by his removal. Others no doubt there are who have
held, or now hold, as ready a pen and others too who
have had, or now have, as great a degree of industry,
love of research, and indifference to pecuniary profit ;
but if these qualities were, or are, eminently possessed
severally by different individuals, it can nevertheless in
truth be said that they never existed collectively, and
in greater perfection, in any one person, than in Benja-
APPENDIX. 249
min F. Thompson. We knew him well. In an occular
intercourse and intimacy for years, our opinion of his
character, his genius, his learning, and his toils, has
been formed ; no person living had a better opportunity
of knowing the man; and it is esteemed as a bright
period in our life that our lots were so long cast toge
ther. As a father and a husband, the best might imi
tate him ; and nothing valuable would be lost to the
domestic circle, and much saved that sadly mars its
bliss. As a neighbor, peaceable and kind, to benefit
his fellows it was only necessary to know that it was in
his power to do so. His was not that sentimental be
nevolence which is satisfied by wishing well, but that
practical kind which would do good;
As a man, he sought to the last to improve and ame
liorate, by information, the condition of his race. Pe
culiar in his views upon theology, yet that peculiarity
was never allowed to interrupt a full and free inter
course with its professed teachers ; and not a few of
them, and the best informed too, but will bear us wit
ness that they were ever edified and instructed by such
intercourse. To all he was ever ready and happy to
impart from his great stock of varied literature ; his
was never a light "placed under a bushel, but on a can
dlestick, and it gave light to all in the house." We
offer no minute and particular account upon these facts ;
at this time they require none at our hands. The fu
ture biographer will detail them with interest and with
pride.
A lover and a master of ancient and modern learn
ing an admirer of genius and of talent a devoted
disciple within the temple of knowledge a martyr to
250 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
the cause of usefulness to the present and future gene
rations, he has been sacrificed before his time. u His
sun," in the emphatic language of Scripture, " has gone
down while it was yet day."
The village he aided so much to advance in wealth
and notice the place of his wearied, carking cares
and labors the fair Spring, with her carpet of green
and perfume of flowers the genial Summer, redolent
of life the mellow Autumn, rich in variegated increase
nor the chill Winter, fitting emblem of mortality
shall now know his presence, no more forever. Tis a
withering thought; and but for the hope within, we
should sink beneath its influence. Yet shall he live ;
not as frail humanity, but as destined from the begin
ning immortal. Time and his brother, Death, shall
work no farther change ; they write no wrinkle upon
the placid brow of the eternal spirit. Its smile is the
same yesterday, to-day, and forever. As the carol of
birds, the zephyr s dirge-like music, or ocean s un
changing bass, it is still the same, though we grow old,
and exchange insensibly the buoyancy of youth for the
depression of age and the tomb. Such a mind should
be, and is, perennial as eternity. His own History of
his dear native island shall perpetuate and embalm his
memory.
We loved Thompson for his amiable qualities, his ac
complished erudition, and his natural delight in impart
ing it to those around him. Faults he certainly had ;
but they were the faults of a generous nature. To deny
him these, were to deny him human. Malice he har
bored not. His mind he freely spoke, tis true ; and as
APPENDIX. 251
freely did he extend his hand, in token of a reconciled
and honorable feeling.
It is a great thing to die ; we know not how it is to
others, but we again repeat, it is a great thing to die !
Were the living to properly appreciate this truth, not
a moment would be lost in the preparation ; but they
do not. With him, the rubicon of life was suddenly
passed ; the messenger, Death, came quick ; the shaft
flew strong; he expired, unconscious of the summons.
The laying off of this earthly vesture, the final leaving
of this tried existence endeared by home, family, and
friends for the unseen, untried, and immaterial exist
ence of the supposed future, has never, in all time, been
looked upon complacently by the natural man. It was
even so with him. "The dim Unknown" "The un
discovered country from whose bourn no traveler re
turns, puzzles the will." What noble lights in sci
ence and in arts what bright constellations of worth
and virtue what resplendent luminaries of wisdom
and of learning what glorious youth and seraphic
beauty, people that alleged " spirit land ;" and what
rich voices stud those shadowy realms. Ruth, Debo
rah, and Mary ; Sappho, the mother of the Gracchi,
and the Queen, of the South ; creatures who were once
the light, the grace, and beauty of our world are there,
with Herodotus and Tacitus, Newton and Locke, Shaks-
peare and Milton. Gibbon and Bacon.
And now another devoted worshiper at the altar of
truth has passed forever hence, arid, as we believe,
has joined a pure and sacred band, the literati and the
perfection of ages, whom he loved here so well, and
had only gone before, to the Paradise of God. G.
252 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
The following is a copy of a letter from my daugh
ter (now deceased), the late Mrs. Harriett L. Wells,
wife of Abner Wells, of Southold. It was written to a
friend, whom, with poignant sensations, she saw was in
dulging in a course of dissipation which had brought
him on the edge of a precipice, over which the unre
claimed inebriate is assured certain to plunge into de
struction :
SIR : Hoping you will calmly read these few lines, dictated by the
purest motives, be the event what it may. An irresistible impulse
prompts me to address you a fervent wish to snatch from destruction
a person whom I should be pleased to address by the title of brother,
if, by one effort of virtue, he should merit that sacred name. 0, for a
warning voice to touch the heart ; to open your eyes to see the misery
and wretchedness which awaits you if you will not listen ! The wife of
your bosom, your helpless infant all, all must be sacrificed: your own
happiness ultimately destroyed. Is the pleasure enjoyed in the inebri
ating draught sufficient to atone for a life of misery 1 Ah ! the tears of
bitterness shed by a broken-hearted wife. Where is domestic happiness
when she sits by her unconscious infant boy, in fear and expectation of
its father s return, excited by wine? What are the caresses of such a
husband and father ? Be his good qualities what they may, they are
sunk in the beast. Yes, worse ; for the brute is what God made it but
the worshiper of Bacchus destroys himself. He is unfit for the society
of a virtuous woman ; his smiles and caresses are more repulsive than
the maniac often times quite as dangerous How common it is for the
intoxicated man to commit acts of cruelty, or indiscretion, which he
would otherwise revolt at ! And must a tender, confiding wife and fa
mily be chained to such misery 1 one who has promised to be a guard
and guide through and amidst the trials of life. Ls this love for the wo
man who leaves the home of her youth, for whose sake she is willing to
brave every ill but shame 1 In this life, we must expect cares, and trials,
and those of a female are peculiar A tender husband can only alleviate
t v em Family cares. Husbands and wives are under a sacred obliga
tion to bear each other s burdens. Age creeps on, and home is their all.
There, alone, must center their joys and sorrows How does it look to
see a wife and mother intemperate ? Wretched, you exclaim. It is but
reversing the scene. Are the husband s feelings more delicate 1 his heart
APPENDIX. 253
more tender 1 Certainly not. With what emotions he will fly from the
scene. On the other hand ; see the weeping wife ! There she sits,
drowned in grief, watching o er her babes, and hearing their complaints
for care ; yes, often for bread ! This is no fiction : for when a man is
excited by liquor, no sacrifice is too great for him to make to his god.
Pardon me, if I probe the wound ; it is but to heal, and while I re
late those truths, I know there is yet a remedy in your power to avert
the evil, and save yourself from ruin ! The future and present happi
ness of a beloved sister, urges, constrains me to be thus explicit.
Wretched girl ! if you, dear, deluded man, will not hear. She undone
herself when she leapt the fatal precipice ! She madly thought your
love for her would save yourself from ruin ; a year of mise/y has been
her portion. She risked happiness on a fallacious hope. She is now
about to leave her home a home where she never knew real sorrow or
want. It is in your pOAver to smooth the path of her life ; begin anew.
Talents and temperance, with industry, will secure a competency. I as
sure you, you will find peace in no other path. Had you, one year ago,
attended to this suggestion, would you not now have been much hap-
pi.-r 1 The hearts of aged parents have been bleeding to see their daugh
ter s misery. Spare, oh, spare their grey hairs ! Touch not handle
not ; in your case, this only is safety.
You are now a father. If the prayers of friends, the agony of an af
fectionate wife, will not be heard, hear the moans of your infant son.
When temptations assail you, think, oh ! think, soon he will lisp the
name of father ; soon, his expanded intellect will observe every action
of his parent. 0, let not his innocent cheek be made to mantle with a
blush for a father s weakness !
For his sake, 0, rny friend, be master of yourself, and gain that greatest
of victories by conquering those habits, which, to indulge, is sure ruin.
What shall I say morel Angels will rejoice at kuch a conquest ; and
if the spirits of the bless d are admitted to increased joy for terrestrial
beings, the happy spirit of your sainted mother will hover round you,
and strike a higher note of praise for the redemption of her son ! And,
what is more than all, the sweet peace of an approving conscience will
be a solace which the world can neither give nor take away ; and, surely,
it never can be found in the haunts of dissipation. Pray, 0, pray to the
Almighty for strength, and you will have the prayers of your well-
wishers.
April 8, 1838. HARRIET L. WELLS.
22
254 GRIF FIN S JOURNAL.
OBSERVATIONS.
Poverty will stick to a man, when all mankind for
sake him.
If people could realize half their wishes, they would
double their present troubles.
In all the affairs of human life, moderation, calmness,
and decision of mind is true philosophy. Our energies
will give way soon enough without any forced action.
A spirit of restlessness, discontent, and uneasiness, is
truly a mark of unreasonable unreconciliation to the
methods of a Divine Providence. I plead guilty. If
my spirit is willing, my flesh is weak.
I have seen a mother open a letter, just received
from an absent son, and peruse it, accompanied with
tears, flowing from the joy received of a knowledge it
gave of his welfare, good health, and love and care for
her. After feasting on its contents, and wiping off the
tears of a mother s tenderness, which none but a mother
can know, she carefully folded the (to her) precious
treasure, and placed it in her bosom, near her heart.
What love !
That mother was my late wife, Mrs. Lucretia Griffin.
There was a tenderness, a truthfulness, a surpassing
moral beauty in that affectionate act, truly inexpressible.
That man if there can be such a one who can for
get such a mother; who can forget the sorrows and
solicitudes which she has endured for him, and the les
sons of piety which she instilled into his young mind
such a man has sundered the last tie which binds him
to virtue, and reasonable hope of rest or heaven.
APPENDIX. 255
" Our fathers where are they ?" and in a very few
years, where shall we be ? Ah ! where are the millions
whose voices were heard through, the land, bustling,
busy in ardent pursuit of the phantoms wealth, honor,
fame, and the pleasures of a moment ? Alas ! where
are they ? Death has hushed their exulting tunes, and
their monuments have crumbled under the footsteps of
Time? Yes, and we are passing to the same silent
shore.
Care and sorrow will attend the do wn-hill of life ;
they will cast their sombre shades upon us, and we
must walk in their gloom down to the dreamless sleep
of the grave.
My wife my Lucretia ! Alas ! she has gone ; gone
forever! At twelve o clock, M., on the 18th of May,
1849, the sun of my earthly consolations and expecta
tions set set forever ! Oh, my riven heart ! alone an
isolated sojourner of more than four-score years!
You that have experienced such attachment, have
possessed such a priceless jewel in all its purest perfec
tions, and have known and felt its irretrievable loss, are
sensibly and solemnly acquainted with the poignant
sensations of him who has experienced such cutting be
reavement. Earth, with all its productions, cannot heal
the wound nor fill the void. A sharer in all my joys
a refreshment, soother, and ready partaker of all my
cares and sorrows a willing helper and sovereign balm
for the accidents and disappointments which my life is
heir to, my peace and solace were interwoven with
256 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
the nicest desires of her heart, for my prosperous chances
and successful commerce in the world.
" And is it thus to live ? When such friends part,
Tis the survivor dies. My heart no more."
Died, at Orient, on the 19th ult., Mrs. Lucretia Grif
fin, consort of Augustus Griffin, Esq., aged eighty years.
When a woman of singular worth departs this life,
whose example may be a blessing to society, it becomes
the duty of the moralist to portray her virtues, and res
cue her name from oblivion.
Mrs. Griffin was one of those few individuals who
have left a character which should be held up as a
model for those to imitate whose portion and trials may
hereafter correspond with her own. The chief objects
of her regard were her God and the happiness of the
domestic circle. She was never led from the plain path
of her duty to her family and her Creator, by the glitter
of fashion or the glare of ostentation and pride ; and if
she had met with reverses and although she had seen
the playmates of her childhood and the companions of
her youth lie scattered around her, like leaves torn from
the tree of life, and she almost alone remaining yet
she bore all with meekness and resignation.
She had lost children, also, yet she murmured not under
the bereavement. The secret of her tranquility of mind
was hope the hope of a blessed immortality ater death ;
this was the lever that buoyed up her soul under the
pressure of affliction and sorrow. She always had a
word of comfort for the distressed, and it appeared to
be her chief happiness to console the unfortunate. She
was a Christian, and she always spoke to her auditor
of her faith and trust in her Redeemer.
APPENDIX. 257
Her husband, tlie object of her youthful affection,
still survives her, and has the inexpressible happiness
of knowing no abatement in his attachment to her last
hour. He attended her through a long and painful
illness, with unfaltering fidelity and untiring assiduity ;
and he often told the writer of this brief eulogy that he
thought it more his duty to be her friend and protector
then, than at any former period of his long and happy
union with her ; indeed his solicitude to gratify her every
want, and his pertinacity in assisting her in every wish,
was the subject of universal remark and admiration.
Reader, forget not the virtues of the deceased, nor
fail to imitate the constancy and devotion of the sur
vivor. JOHN O. TERKY.
Orient, May 2S^A, 1849.
ANECDOTE.
Many years ago there was a Baptist minister, strictly
close-communion, named Catlin, who was noted as a revi
valist, and withal a very interesting preacher. At the
time to which we refer, he had been laboring much to
the pleasure as well as the profit of the people in the
township of Southold, L. I. His fame, as a stirring
preacher, soon readied the neighborhood of Upper Ac-
quebogue, and an invitation was sent, from the Con
gregational Church in that place, to Elder C. to come
and preach for them. The invitation was cheerfully
accepted, and many attended to the preaching of the
Word. Elder C. became specially interested in one
person whom he saw in the congregation, and that per
son was an aged man, trembling under the weight of
258 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
near ninety years, venerable in appearance, and highly
regarded as a Christian of rare faith and piety. He was
known as " Deacon Terry," and for many years was a
member and an officer in that church.
Elder C. sought an introduction to this holy man of
God, and despite the exclusiveness of "close commu
nion," soon entered into delightful spiritual commu-
nings with the aged saint. Finally, he expressed his
strong desire to have Deacon Terry visit him at his
residence, some two hundred miles distant. The old
Deacon, in reply, stated that much as it might gratify
him to do so, the project would be almost miraculous
for one of his years and palsied condition ; "yet," said
he, and looking archly at Elder C., " should I come, and
get to your place about supper time, what then ?" El
der 0. readily perceived the allusion, and said no more.
A letter wrote by widow Abigail Moore, of-Southold.
She was the mother of the celebrated John Ledyard.
At the time Mrs. Moore wrote this letter, she was near
eighty years of age. Rev. Mr. II - had just preach
ed a sermon, whose text was : " They went out from
us, because they were not of us." This discourse, from
a Presbyterian, was considered as pointed at the Me
thodist society in this vicinity. Mrs. Griffin, my wife,
who was a member of the church of Upper Acque-
bogue (Congregational), and cherished much tenderness
and good will for the Methodists, as a people of true
piety, was present. With a spirit of Christian liumil-
ty, she (Mrs. Griffin) addressed a letter to the Rev. Mr.
H . It was written with great simplicity, and
Scriptural truth ot God s peculiar blessing resting on
APPENDIX. 259
those examplaiy people. Rev. Mr. Ii soon an
swered it : but not with that spirit of forbearance which
bespeaks the exercise of the greatest of graces char
ity. However, Mrs. Griffin felt Mr. H - to be a
Christian, though, at the time, jrather cold. Mrs. Moore
wrote Mrs. Griffin to console and comfort her :
MY DEAR YOUNG SISTER : Hearing of a letter you have received from
Rev. Mr. H , let me comfort you under such reproaches, esteeming
them greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. I believe you wrote
from an honest heart, which will not condemn you in this world, nor
that to come. I think the inquiry you made was proper, viz : " Who
was, or were, the people you addressed 1" The context says "Even
now, there were many anti-Christs including these that went out from
us, because they were not of us." Doubtless, his pointed sermon was at
the Methodists. As a fountain cannot send forth sweet water and bit
ter, our Savior says if they come in their own name, the world will re
ceive them ; but if they come in my name, they will not. But blessed
are your eyes that see, and your ears that hear the joyful sound of the
Gospel, not of the letter. Blessed be the Lord, I have heard able minis
ters of the New Testament not of the letter, but of the spirit by name,
Methodist. My sheep know my voice. Haman, or the Spirit of the World,
is yet living and complaining of a certain people, dispersed in the kingdom,
and their laws diverse from all people ; therefore, tis not for the King s profit
to suffer them to live. Eeproach them with the name of anti-Christ, en
thusiasts, false zeal, self-willed, high-minded. These reproaches I wear
as a garment, with meekness, considering Him who endured the contra
diction of sinners against himself, lest we be weary and faint in our
minds. I send the salutation of Elizabeth to Mary, to your mother Grif
fin, yourself, and all that know the joyful sound of the Gospel. Happy
art thou, 0, Israel. 0, people loved of the Lord. The people shall
dwell alone, and not be reckoned among the nations. How goodly are
thy tents, 0, Jacob. I often feel my soul and spirit salute the Methodist
churches ; far abroad as the valleys are they spread forth as gardens by
the river side as trees which the Lord hath planted beside the waters.
Adieu, your friend,
1803. ABIGAIL MOORE.
The habit of sacrificing the substance of life for its
260 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
follies and deceptions, is making rapid and alarming
strides in our highly favored country. Thousands are
aiming at greatness by unworthy efforts, and thousands
are seeking wealth and happiness by dishonorable and
unnatural means ; they find their mistake often too late.
To make existence a source of enjoyment, we must not
eat, utter, or do anything that can injure ourselves or
hurt our neighbor.
Money making and fashionable amusements are pas
sions which agitate the present and rising generations
to a fearful degree. Their consequences must be per
nicious to the morals, health, and peace of the commu
nity. Benevolent feeling gives place to moderation
and propriety ; selfishness to excitement. To be called
rich, seems the one thing needful. We have no time
to think or mourn over the departure of a fellow-being,
however worthy in life. The pursuit of gain or plea
sure occupies the minds of almost all of our hurrying,
hasty, short-lived race.
It is pure and undefiled religion alone that can bind
the passions, harmonize the elements of society, and
render the obligations of mutual forbearance and love
the abiding rules of action.
It was said by a wise man, viz. : u If there is one
character more beautiful, more excellent, more noble
than any other, it is respect shown to old age."
Age gathers up the sorrows and joys of a long life,
and, when whitening for the tomb, is an object of sub
limity to the thinking man of sensibility. The passions
have ceased; hope of self has ceased; they love the
APPENDIX 261
young ; they hope for the young ; and oh, how careful
should the young be to reward the aged- with their
fresh, warm hearts, to diminish the chill of ebbing life
in the old !
On a beautiful day, in the summer of 1796, while on
a ramble of about a mile from my residence, I stopped
at the house of Mr. Y., a gentleman of about twenty-six
years, recently married to a fine woman, an only daugh
ter of a respectable farmer, who paid the most marked
attention to the comforts and improvements of this, his
interesting child.
Mr. Y. was what the Yankees call a likely man
handsome in person, features, figure, and address
well informed, mild, pleasing, and prepossessing in his
manner, &c.
As observed, I called in ; it was about noon, and the
table was well furnished for dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Y.
urged me to sit by and partake. After a few minutes
at the table, with the most expressve silence, except
their civilities to me, they simultaneously left the table ;
she to one corner of the room, looking the true picture
of deep, pungent melancholy ; he paced the floor, agi
tated, and looking unutterable things. Soon, with a
desponding sigh, she gave vent to the throbbings of her
overburdened soul, by asking him " how he could re
concile, with propriety, his conduct, as duty to his fam
ily, in staying out so late last night. Such inattention
to her peace, in his keeping such late hours, and with
amusements and companions strangers to moral recti
tude, would assuredly soon destroy her, while his ruin
was certain to follow."
262 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
He sharply replied, as under the influence of the last
night s inebriating draught, " I shall do and act as I
please ; and you, madam, will show your prudence by
a respectable silence at this time." She, with sobs and
tears, quickly replied, " that such a command to a wife
bespoke the tyrant, heartless in all its bearings." At
this he turned short about, to appearance in great wrath,
and said, " If you make another, a single observation, I
will horsewhip such impudence !"
With a dignity and self-respect becoming a virtuous
woman, she instantly replied, " that such language and
threats would better become a savage, and were only
in keeping with the lowest vestiges of society, and the
sooner she was rid of such a disgrace to humanity the
better." At this he seized his silver-mounted riding
whip, which he applied with much seeming earnestness,
striking at the lower part of her garments, where I pre
sume not a stroke injured any part of her body. The
astonishing application gave almost a mortal wound to
the sensibility of Mrs. Y. Immediately after, he mounted
his horse and rode off. She, drowned in tears, and sob
bing, turned to me, saying with emphasis, " Mr. Griffin,
you have been witness to an act of my husband, which
must be seen to be believed. Nothing but the fruits
of the wine cup could have brought him to such de
gradation and brutality. Alas ! I must leave him !
Yes, leave him forever!" With that, she set about
packing up her movables, to be off on the morrow.
But behold the mutability of all sublunary resolves !
In the brief space of two short days, while out on a
morning walk, I was so happy as to meet and receive
the smiling salutations of this same couple, in an early
APPENDIX. 263
ride, enjoying the full tide of successful and conjugal
love. She was arrayed with much taste, in a new, rich
silk dress, with other costly appendages, calculated to
make her appear as when he kept rational hours, and
discarded the accursed cup.
A few short years after this event, Mr. Y. fell a vic
tim to the assured fate of the inebriate and haunters of
the abodes of dissipation. In not more than four years,
his handsome property, his flush of health, and mortal
existence became extinct.
MOTHEK.
While a man s mother lives, he will have one friend
on earth who will not desert him when he is ready to
despair.
Her affection flows from a pure fountain, and ceases
only at the ocean of eternity.
A correct copy of a letter from my daughter, Har
riet Lucretia, written at the age of seven years, while
at school at Sterling, to her mother :
STERLING, 1801.
MY DEAR PARENTS : I think we ought to make use of every moral
whereby our minds, may be improved, for which purpose, let us make use
of Winter.
Winter is the most unpleasant of all the seasons of the year, and may
put us in mind of the state of man after death. For, lo ! dead silence
reigns through the works of Nature. The trees are stripped of their
leaves ; the grass that was so green, is dead ; and no violets, nor delight
ful flowers, are to be seen. The ground is white with snow, and all
around looks cold and dreary.
Accept this, dear Mother, from your dutiful child,
Mrs. Lucretia Griffin. HARRIET L. GRIFFIN,
The above is a copy taken from the original.
264 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
ALONE.
The soft air of Summer breathes in at the open win-
dowl It whispers of voices a short time since hushed
in death, and speaks of friendships forever broken on
earth.
My fondest hopes perished the moment her holy
spirit passed away. The relentless hand of Death has
plucked the fairest flower from my Garden of Life. In
comparison with the loss of the wife of my youth, all
other bereavements are trifling. Bitter, bitter is the
tear that falls upon her cold clay.
Setting sun, which precedes the shades of evening,
remind me that the day of life is past. I have outlived
its fleeting pleasures ; its struggles ; its anxieties. Its
many sorrows and weighty cares, one by one, are now
going out. I am fast sinking to that dreamless rest
from which none awake until the resurrection morn
shall open on the renovated millions of millions of ge
nerations.
What phantoms I have pursued ! I am now a trem
bling relic of bygone years, on the verge of an unac
countable existence.
Among the many admirable sayings of Cicero, are
these memorable words: " Since all sublunary things
are frail arid fading, what can we do better than to seek
out some honest man whom we may love, and by whom
we may be beloved? For, taking away this benevo
lence, this kind and familiar way of living with each
other, what would there remain desirable in life ?" I
think I have once read somewhere that the Egyptians
used to represent friendship by the figure of a young
APPENDIX, 265
man, bare-headed, in a plain garment, on the edge of
which, was written, " mors vita" (life and death) ; across
the forehead, "estas et hyems" (winter and summer.)
His fore-finger stood pointing to his heart, which was
visible ; above which was "long etprope" (far and near.)
Why may not the meaning of this hieroglyphical
representation be this, viz. : His youth might show that
true friendship was ever in its bloom and vigor ; his
bare head, a readiness to serve ; his plain dress, his sin
cerity ; the inscription on the edge of his garment, " life
and death," his constancy ; the "winter and summer"
on his forehead might mean all seasons, whether pros
perous or adverse ; the openness of his breast, to show
his cordial frankness, and the words above his heart,
" far and near," might signify his faithful perseverence
in all places. Whether this is a true meaning or ex
planation of the Egyptian representation, I know not.
At any rate, it must be admitted that friendship is a
virtue which the selfish heart can never appreciate. It
is a jew T el of inestimable value. JEsto perpetua.
Marcus Tnllius Cicero, the Eoman orator, was born
in the one hundred and third year before the Christian
Era, and was put to death in the sixty-fifth year of his age.
Memory ! mysterious memory ! What a mirror !
Thou showest me, in brilliant colors, every interesting
scene of past comforts joys, sorrows, associations, and
interviews the dim, sepulchral images of dear departed
friends, and invaluable connections.
O, memory ! Thou openest afresh the fountains of
early passions, the thrilling aspirations of after years
23
266 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
The present now is felt darkness. Yes, unspeakable
mental anguish.
I look forward, but no sunbeam of cheering light
meets my anxious gaze. Deep in the vale of life, the
friends of my youth are all gone !
Three daughters, with three grand-daughters and two
.grandsons the most dutiful, interesting, and lovely-
all departed, and with them their mothers and grand
mother, whose virtues in the several relations of life
were never exceeded.
Alas ! this last stroke severed the chain that bound
me to earth. The few remaining days of my sojourn
will and must be intermixed with darkness, tears, and
sensations of loneliness inexpressible..
AFFECTION.
The tears of filial sorrow give the brightest lustre, and
the most noble specimen of true affection of any that
are shed by frail humanity.
KINDNESS.
Deal gently with those who go astray; draw them
back by love and persuasion. A kiss in friendship is
worth a thousand kicks. A kind, complacent word is
more valuable to the lost, the bereaved, the lonely, the
aged sojourner, than gold.
There is a transient delight even in the parting agony
of two lovers, worth a thousand tame pleasures of the
world sweetened by that brilliant daughter of the
skies, Hope, delicious hope, to meet again.
APPENDIX. 267
Sweet Home ! What a delightful word ! There is
no word that I know of conjures up such feelings as that
impressing word. Who can speak it without emotions
from the heart ? It, in glowing colors and affecting re
collections, reminds us of a mother s unchanging love,
and a father s care ; our companions and juvenile friend
ships ; our first recollections, and love for those we hold
dear. A mother s love the strongest on this side of
Heaven.
What a dream ! A transient dream of unalloyed de
light has passed over my soul.
I had a paradise allotted me for a season, in which I
shared the love and society of a woman, whose virtues
and loveliness was as near perfection as humanity could
produce or arrive at.
Why, O, why is this budding season of life, of joy
and surpassing tenderness, so transient ? ^ Why is this
rosy cloud, that shed so lately such a, halo over my
sensitive, anxious heart, so soon shrouded in seeming
impenetrable darkness ?
The road of selfishness is too crooked for love ; too
rugged for honesty ; too dark for conscience.
The greatest pleasure of life is love.
The greatest treasure is contentment.
The greatest possession is health.
The greatest ease is sleep.
And the best medicine a true friend.
After I had been married thirty years, my dear wife,
268 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
in one of her letters to me when absent, wrote thus :
" You know the world has no charms when you are un
happy ; if you are comfortable, I cannot but be so."
Gold is an idol worshiped in all climates, without a
temple ; and by all classes, without a hypocrite.
A man a young man, if you please who allows
himself to use one profane or vulgar word, has not
only shown a foul spot on his mind, but by the utter
ance of that word, he extends that spot, and inflames
it, till, by indulgence, it will soon pollute and ruin the
whole man.
Patience and resignation are sure to meet a rich
reward.
Kindnesses how soon they are forgot by those on
whom they are bestowed. Ingratitude blots out what
ought to be, with ecstacy, remembered. Vices are
remembered with cherished contumely and hate.
0, the soft commerce ; 0, the tender tie
That s rent assunder, when such are calPd to die :
So much endeared by every filial move,
That grace adorns her as a child of love.
When such a jewel from our earth is riven,
It puts a blank on all things this side Heaven.
AND SHE WEFT.
Tears are sometimes a relief, and sometimes a bur
den. They are assuredly a relief to a woman, because
her sympathy approves them ; they burden a man, be
cause his pride rebukes them. A woman weeps be
APPENDIX. 269
cause she feels ; a man because he can t feel. A wo
man s tears affect a man ; but a man s tears disaffect a
woman. A woman weeps for others a man for him
self. A woman s tears are common property a man s
are his own. A woman believes them a profitable in
vestment a man considers them a useless expenditure.
A woman s tears are easy and natural a man s are
forced and awkward. Woman s are the warm streams
of the summer cloud man s the cold droppings of the
icicle.
A PICTURE.
A drunkard is the annoyance of modesty ; the trou
ble of civility ; the spoil of wealth, and the distraction
of reason. He is the brewer s customer ; the tavern
and ale-houses benefactor; the beggar s companion;
the constable s trouble ; his wife s woe ; his children s
sorrow ; his own shame. In fine, he is a tub of filth
and swill, and a monster in the shape of man.
A VIRTUOUS WOMAN.
He who has not experienced the friendship of a wo
man, whose virtue is unstained, knows not half the
charms or unsullied delights of friendship. Woman
possesses the art of adorning and beautifying the scenes
of life by unalterable sweetness of temper, constant
care, and unwearied attentions. Such last best gift of
Heaven, is man s consoling companion in prosperity,
and assuredly so in the trying hours of adversity. She
is, at all times, in all circumstances, in all situations
in sickness, sorrow, ami di.-.-i it ution un unshaken, im-
33*
270 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
movable, uncontaminated, sentimental friend an angel
of mercy.
Amidst the bustle, cares, anxieties, and commotions
incident to the man of business, he is wise who, thus
immersed in the complicated scenes of life, looks for
ward and prepares himself for the time when care and
trial shall throw their deepening shadows over the
laughing face ; when sorrow shall come ; when summer
friends shall fall off like leaves in autumn, before the
rough blast of winter and misfortune overtake. Ah !
how swift the moment approaches when the daughter
of hope, and the pride of her parents, will seek to find
repose upon, perhaps, a faithless breast, no longer w^arm
with life and love.
A father may be kind, affectionate, and considerate ;
many are such ; yet how many are there whose affec
tions form but a small part of their existence!
O, the depth and strength of a mother s love ! It
reaches high as Heaven, deep as the foundations of
earth, and is strong and lasting as the pillars of eter
nity. It will follow its object its child, its husband,
its son over hill and seas.
SOLITUDE.
Solitude, in many situations and certain circumstances
of life, is certainly necessary to work a good effect in giv
ing us a view of the world, and the most important sub
jects connected with its productions.
To the wise, truly good, and sadly bereaved, it would
APPENDIX. 271
not be readily exchanged for the comfortless, heartless
intercourse of a busy, bustling, selfish, cold, unthinking
world.
We know man is naturally a sociable being, born for
society ; yet but few would wish to become Robinson
Crusoe, in seclusion from the world ; although, like him,
all would wish to be sole governor of their own domain.
One of the grand secrets of life is to learn to accom
modate ourselves to circumstances, and the situation
Providence has seen fit to place us in. Bless God that
it is as well with us as it is. For wise and eternal pur
poses, our lot is cast as it is. The journey, whether
over a rugged or smooth way, will soon be over. If
prosperous at its end, God will have all the glory.
Amen !
There is nothing safer than honesty ; nothing sweeter
than charity ; nothing warmer than love ; nothing
purer than virtue ; and nothing more steadfast than
faith. These, united in one mind, form the purest, the
sweetest, the richest, the brightest, the holiest, and
most permanent happiness.
How painful, how poignant the remorse in reflecting
on having even given a pang to the warm heart of the
dearest of friends who now lie cold in death ! The ad
der s poisonous sting, and the viper s fatal bite, are not
more pungent or more wretched. Remorse awakes the
nerve where agonies arc born.
The first dramatic entertainment ever given in New
272 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
York city took place on the 17th September, 1753.
Alas ! where now are the gay actors ? yes, and the
pleased and brilliant audience, and the sparkling and
fascinating belles? Ah! where? "Dust to dust, the
Whatever be the motives for insults, it is always best
to overlook them ; for folly scarcely can deserve re
sentment, and malice is punished by neglect. Yet the
celebrated Junius says injuries may be atoned for and
forgiven, but insults never. May not some insults
amount to no higher ill-usage than severe injuries? If
so, forgive them.
True loveliness and beauty in a young lady is not to
be found in tinsel ornaments of the body, but in the re
flection of the rectitude and serenity of a well-spent
life, that soars above the transient vanities of this
world.
REFLECTING ON MY BEREAVEMENTS 1849.
She was my guardian angel on earth, and will, I
trust, continue one in Heaven.
The ways of God are dark and intricate, but they are
doubtless just.
Promises made in time of affliction, require a better
memory than people generally possess.
It is useless for me to attempt to seek for quiet or
comfort in the solemn haunts of nature, since my loved
one is no longer here to fill and sanctify my mourning
soul.
APPENDIX. 273
There are assuredly more cloudy days in a year than
fair ones ; so it is in our brief years of life. No matter
if cares and toils do meet us at almost every step ; let
us seek a cheerful acquiescence to the methods of a wise
and just Providence. Be just; be cheerful. Compo
sure and resignation betoken a heart in the right place.
As Col. Aaron Burr was leaving the boat, when ar
rested on a supposed expedition detrimental to his coun
try, after an eloquent address to the young men in his
suit, he observed with emphasis, "Heu quantum est in
rebus, in ane"
Died, at East Marion, Southold, on Sunday morning,
the 21st ult., James Griffin, aged eighty-seven years.
The deceased was born, bred, and passed his long life
in this, his native town. For many years he was a
teacher in our common schools ; and numerous are those
now living, mothers and fathers, that will bear grateful
witness to the excellent precepts and examples by him
inculcated and imparted to their youthful minds.
Perhaps there never was a man more respected and
esteemed by all who knew him. It were not saying
too much, we believe, to declare he had no enemy. His
every act was as if the Omnipotent Eye was directly
upon him.
Unobtrusive, yet ever self-possessed and dignified in
his manners intelligent, benevolent, and charitable
he lived to witness the reward of his goodness. Pos
sessed of a spirit worthy of the best Eoman, he repined
at no adverse fortune, and could say and feel, in the
hour of his greatest Providential affliction, " Thou doest
all things well !"
274 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Few indeed are the parents that have been called to
bear up beneath the weight of mental anguish that has
fallen to his lot. Seven sons blessed his marriage bed,
and all arrived at that period in life when it is becom
ing to share in its active pursuits. The early care and
solicitude of a true mother and father were fully devel
oped. The children had become men, and by their con
duct, doing honor to. themselves, their family, and their
community. A fairer prospect of earthly usefulness
and happiness is rarely presented. Home was the seat
of contentment and peace ; health, virtue, industry, and
ability were all there ; a willing hand and heart too.
Nor was the thought awakened that a change, an awful
change, was imminent.
It was in this full, bright day of human prosperity,
when himself and aged partner were reasonably happy
in the possession of such an offspring, when no admoni
tory voice had whispered preparation, and when no
summer cloud had yet. even for a moment, obscured
the clear sunlight of their enjoyment, that the bereave
ment came, and not then to the eye but to the ear;
thus adding all the horrors of the creations of the imagi
nation to the dreadful reality. Four of these sons, in
vigorous manhood, in one instant were whelmed be
neath the Atlantic s waves no companion left to bear
the last farewell, or recount the terrible tragedy.
We remember well the sadness and woe that de
picted the countenances of this entire community when
the sad news arrived. Not only the immediate rela
tions of the deceased, but a wide spread circle of friends
arid acquaintances participated in the gloom. And well
too do we remember the greatness of mind and pious
APPENDIX. 275
resignation manifested by this father when informed of
his great bereavement. He was standing by his front
picket fence, as a neighbor came up, and, as tenderly
as possible, broke to him the sad intelligence. ~No mur
mur, or sigh, or groan, or tear followed. His noble
spirit bowed in submission, but the humanity was weak.
In his bosom there was " a grief which passeth show."
He leaned on the railing, and it was immediately dis
covered that he was insensible.
A feAV years since the excellent partner of his youth,
full of years and goodness, was also called to leave him,
and again he bowed with Christian grace to the blow.
The curtain of mortality has now dropt forever on
the earthly scene of this aged pilgrim and sojourner.
In spirit he has gone to join the happy spirits of faith
fully mourned sons and wife, and sainted mother and
father.
How fitful the decease of such a man with the close
of the dying year ! The natural harvest has been abun
dant, and is secured. Nature, as if to repose, has laid
off her beautiful verdure of comely and rich colors, and
wound herself for a season in a robe of white, and ap
parent death ; but the work of life has been done, and
well done. His harvest, fully ripe, has been gathered,
and without loss. That which was mortal has been
wrapt in the cold habiliments of the grave, and the im
mortal, unincumbered with earth, has passed, replumed,
in perennial youth, and remains forever " fast by the
throne of God." G.
J)ece?ncer, 1851.
276 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Died, on Thursday, Sept. 29th, 1852, at the residence
of his brother, Dr. John Augustus Preston,* in Hart-
land, James Hervey Preston, aged twenty-two years.
He was the affectionate and justly beloved son of the
late James II. and Deziah Preston, of Orient.
His path through his brief mortal sojourn was that of
rectitude, and Christianity the basis of his faith and
hope.
Died, in Williamsburgh, October 5th, 1852, Harriet
McNeil, daughter of James McNeil, formerly of Orient,
aged eighteen years. .
" Sweet Harmonist ! and beautiful as sweet !
And young as beautiful ! and virtuous as young !
And these were all thy own."
Contemplation of distress softens the mind of man,
and helps to make the heart better. It extinguishes
the seeds of envy and ill will toward his brother man.
The envious heart is too black and wretched for human
language to paint.
When these eyes shall cease to weep, and have sunk
to their dreamless rest, earth will still be as fair, and
the silver moon will ride on as triumphantly. " All, all
on earth is shadow 1"
Is this true there is no good man s heart but has a
little of the woman s in it ?
Suspicion is not less an enemy to virtue than it is to
* Dr. John Augustus Preston died April 19, 1853.
APPENDIX. 277
happiness. He that is already corrupt is certainly natu
rally suspicious ; and he that is suspicious will quickly
be corrupt.
The road of life, although chequered with many rough
places, has some pleasant amusements ; but, after all,
we are anxious for rest.
On visiting the old school-house, after an absence
from it of more than fifty years :
Long years have passed since here I took my stand
As village teacher. This is the house the land
The same old place ! Here pretty girls and boya
Were taught the way that leads to solid joys :
An interesting group all full of glee
Some in their Abs ; some in their A B C
A lovely brood ! Their lively aims and ends
Appeared united all to be my friends.
Their mothers, fathers, guardians, all were kind ;
A better district seldom can we find.
Here lived a score of aunts, full of good will,
And gave herb teas whenever 1 was ill ;
A cold, a cough, the least complaint or muss,
They d haste to soak my feet, careful to nurse.
The honors which to woman Ledyard gave,
Show them to be " the bravest of the brave"
Kindness, with sympathy, their every move,
Show them the subjects of maternal love.
"Young, and a stranger to them, I had come
They all exclaimed, " Young friend, make this thy home !"
Now, what a change ! That generation s gone !
One solitary remnant, only one,*
She lives, a relic of the days of yore ;
Eventful is her life of eighty years and more ;
Good health she yet enjoys, as ever kind
* Widow Ruth Coleman, in her ninetieth year.
24
278 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
A mother still, with all a mother s rnind
Just as I found her when 1 took my board
With the dear man, her noble, generous lord ;*
The best of husbands, at all times or place,
Surely an honor to our motley race ;
Accommodating, social, pleasant, free,
Kind to the poor, fatherless, and me !
That lively, interesting set my scholars then
Have been old women ; and some, too, old men.
They all have passed away forever gone,
To join those millions in the worlds unknown ;
She who remains, with scrutinizing view,
Exclaims, with wonder, " Master, is this you,
Who, with a whip not used, a good ferule,
Full sixty years ago taught me at school ?
My age, dear sir, at that time was but ten :
I m eighty now ! what must your age be, tbenl"
Alas ! this scene is interspers d with gloom
Methinks I tread the suburbs of the tomb ;
Dark, drear reflections do my breast inspire,
To see at once so many friends expire !
Out of this district, about three miles, not four,
Two dame widows,! of ninety years or more !
Their minds yet bright lovers of Gospel truth
From early life associates of aunt Ruth ;
These three descended from John Tuthill, who
Came to Southold two hundred years ago.
Well, these good women s ages now, you see,
If added, make two hundred, seventy !
Now, if divided right, we find it then
Will give each lady s age full nine times ten !
Their world has gone ; mine, too, is passing soon !
Mates of my youth, and social friends, ah, gone !
0, what a dream is life ! What is its show 1
What is it now 1 what eighty years ago 1
* The late Abner Coleman a man that was a man.
t Dorothy Watkins and her sister, Anna Steward ; the first ninety three years, the
econd ninety-one. Mrs. Watkins died in 1851; Mrs. Steward in 1853 ; Mrs. Ruth
Coleman in 1853, aged ninety years.
APPENDIX. 279
Time, time has swept those objects dear away,
And the old school-house shows a fast decay
Wrapt deep in pensive gloom, with sadness turn,
And leave entire a district in its urn.
How baseless are earth s goods ! Her brightest gleams
Are staffs of reed are visionary dreams !
Content and rest, they just before us lie
We grasp to seize them, and the phantoms fly.
Man s brightest days are full of anxious fears,
And every joy has its attendant tears :
Oh, let us then those virtues well secure,
Which seal our passport to a world that s pure !
In the cemetery at Orient, which is on the south side
of the main road, a few rods east of the Congregational
Church, stand two handsome marble stones, on one of
which is inscribed the following :
Beneath is reposited
the Body of
JAMES H. PRESTON,
who departed this life on Friday,
the 12th day of April, 1833,
Aged 33 years.
"In the character of the deceased were united many of those excellent
and amiable qualities which render man not only a means of happiness,
but a blessing to his fellows. Truly benevolent, without ostentation ;
honest, without pretension ; efficient and worthy, without ambition ;
a Christian, without hypocrisy ; a dutiful son, kind brother, prudent father,
and a most tender husband ; sensible that it is but a poor evidence of re
membrance, and that within her heart there exists, to his memory, a
monument perennial as eternity, a bereaved and sorrow-stricken consort,
a partner of early youth, has caused this memorial to be raised to his
honor, with the hope that, when viewed by her orphan children, it will
instruct them of the virtues of an invaluable father, and often remind
them to emulate his beautiful example."
Inscription on the grave-stone which marks the place
280 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
where rest the mortal remains of Mrs. Deziah G. Pres
ton, wife of the former :
The Grave
of the mortal remains of our
Mother,
Deziah G. Preston, who died
January 20th, 1839, M 41 years.
Although at this place, by reason of the imperfect condition of our
natural affection, we let fall the unavailing tear, and mourn the departure
of our dear and beloved friend ; yet we can say, as said the angels at the
sepulchre of our Lord, " She is not here, but has risen !" And that even
now the pure intelligences of Heaven welcome her as a new and kindred
inhabitant, and rejoice that another happy spirit has arrived to participate
in their bliss
" How solid all where change shall be no more."
Died, at Newburgh, IN". Y., on the 24th September,
1854, my youngest brother, Samuel Caddie Griffin, in
the sixty-seventh year of his age. He was a native of
Rocky Point, (now East Marion,) near Greenport. He
was a teacher for many years in Annapolis, Md., from
whence he removed to Orange county, in this State,
where he ended his useful life. It is difficult for lan
guage of eulogy to do justice to the character of a man
whose life presents no prominent features of observa
tion, who pursues the even tenor of his way in a voca
tion so humble as that of the school teacher. He may
possess a thousand virtues ; but, like the gems of the
ocean, their rays are hidden from view, or like the
flowers of the wilderness, they are doomed to bloom in
solitude. But to the small circle of his friends, Mr.
Griffin presented a character which they will cherish
in their memories, and imprint in their hearts with the
liveliest emotions of affection and gratitude. He was
APPENDIX. 281
mild in his disposition, patient in his business, learned
and intelligent ; punctilious in his dress, genteel in his
appearance, polite in his manners; he was a philan
thropist and a Christian; he was virtuous and pious,
and had a firm hope of a blessed immortality beyond
the grave ; he was amiable, and an honest man, always
true to conviction, and firm in the expression of his
opinions ; a great lover of freedom, and devoted to the
progress of amelioration and happiness of his race. He
was a most agreeable companion in the social and do
mestic circle; and the writer of this article, who had
long intimately known him, deeply sympathizes with
his friends and relatives in his loss.
Died, on the llth June, 1842, Mrs. Experience Coch-
rane, in the seventy -seventh year of her age. She was
the daughter of the late Major Nathaniel King, who
died in this village in 1822, in the ninety-second year
of his age, before noticed. In the year 1786, this ex
cellent woman was married to John Cochrane, of Say-
brook, Conn. The ceremony of uniting this couple was
performed by the Rev. Zachariah Green. This gentle
man is now residing at Ilempstead, Queens county,
aged ninety-seven years, and is more fully noticed on
another page of this journal. At the time of this wed
ding, Mr. Green was in his twenty-seventh year. Mrs.
Cochrane leaves three children two daughters, Expe
rience and Sally, and one son, William.
The following obituary notice of the death of my
24*
282 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
dear daughter, Harriet L., was published shortly after
her decease :
Died, at Southold, on the morning of the 14th Oct.,
1842, Mrs. Harriet Lucretia Wells, wife of Captain Abner
Wells.
Mrs. Wells possessed an excellent mind, which was
improved by early and much reading. But few of her
sex more justly appreciated genius, or more warmly
admired the intellectual, true, and the beautiful in let
ters ; herself a scholar, she valued learning, and was at
home with its lovers. Of the virtues of this rare wo
man, it may be said, without misgiving, her entire brief
life was an example to her sex of all that is pure, and
lovely, and of good report. As a daughter, it might be
said of her, " many daughters have done virtuously, but
thou excellest them all ;" and as a wife and mother,
" she opened her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue
was the law of kindness." She looked well to the ways
of her household, and eat not the bread of idleness.
" Her children arise up and call her blessed ; her hus
band also, and he praiseth her." But she has gone
now ; the grave has opened to receive her mortality,
and closed forever upon it ; and her spirit has ascended
to Heaven, and now rests in peace in the bosom of her
Father and her God. To part with one so accomplished
in mind, so amiable and so good, caused many a bitter
pang ; and the tear of regret and sorrow fell plenteously
and fast from a community of troubled friends, in the
performance of the humbling and sad office of sepul
ture. Even now we cannot say farewell, for we feel
that she yet lives with us, that her voice is still heard,
and her example still before us. Twas hard to die.
APPENDIX. 283
And if a husband s and daughter s solicitude, a mother s
and father s prayers and tears could have saved, Death s
shafts would have fallen harmless ; humanity would
have spared the blow, and she would not have died.
As if an angel spoke, " Don t forget me !" is remem
bered ; and yet green, and young, and fresh, and vigor
ous, O, Harriet ! shall be that wish, while life and mem
ory last.
Died, at Southold, on Friday morning, 4th Novem
ber, 1842, my grand-daughter, Miss Deziah Lavinia
Wells, in her twentieth year. Thus, in three weeks
from the decease of the mother, has the daughter been
called to follow; and fulfilling, with the certainty of
inspiration, the truth of the remarks of that mother,
when each lay upon their beds of death beneath the
same roof, and the daughter requested to be taken into
the room to see, for the last time on earth, her dying
parent ; that mother, who contracted her disease by her
intense anxiety over the sick bed of that daughter, even
in the last agonies of the dissolution of her expiring na
ture, still felt for the welfare of the child. She declined
a compliance with the request, and replied, " It had
better not be done ; it can do no good ; our separation
will be but short !" and soon after expired.
From such a scene, human nature might learn a more
instructive lesson than from all the luxuries, and ease,
and wealth, and splendor of our world. A lasting bene
fit could be derived by the former, while all experience
teaches the latter to be as fleeting and evanescent as
the dew.
284 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
To my dear wife, in her last sickness :
Come now, my love, lean on my breast,
My true and virtuous wife ;
0, come, and let us now forget
Each shaded point of life.
Oh, I will kiss those tears away,
In retrospection, see
Those bygone days when hope s bright rays
Made you a world to me.
Sweet seasons of our early love,
Sincerity our mark ;
All was delight our hearts were right
With scarce one spot of dark.
The sea of life is sometimes rough ;
Yet while with you I sail,
Wavec can t o erwhelm while at the helm
Love guides us through the gale.
I love to part those fading curls,
Gaze on thy pleasant brow ;
It is a joy without alloy
Tis mine, dear wife, just now.
Earth s joys we know are few and brief,
But Hope the spirit cheers
Lends us relief from wasting grief,
And mitigates our fears.
Dear, fainting wife ! let me sustain
Thy cheerless, painful lot ;
Thou art Divine amidst decline,
I see Love s fadeless spot.
How sweet to recollect the place
Where first our hearts did join ;
Naught can efface the time and place
Where thou didst say, "I m thine !"
Come, rest thy head upon my breast,
My drooping, faithful dove :
Don t weep, my dear- -come, 0, come here,
A refuge for thy love.
APPENDIX. 285
We know our noon of life is past,
And night draws nigh, we see ;
Yet while tis day, with joy I say,
I have a world in thee !
Died, in New York, December, 1851, aged sixty-
seven years, Roger Williams, a native of Norway, in
the kingdom of Denmark. Mr. Williams came to this
country (America) about the year 1801, at the age of
sixteen. After some time, he returned to the land of
his birth, where, after a short tarry, he returned to this
country again, spent some time, about 1807 or 8, at
Stonington, Conn., and followed the sea a year or so.
In 1809, or near that date, he married Mrs. Maria Crum,
a widow lady of the city of New York, a kind and
peaceful companion through life. He was for many
years, and at his decease, one of the elders of St. James
Lutheran Church in that city, and one of the most in
dustrious, frugal, and laborious of men. He left a
widow and children Margaret, Matilda, Christopher
C., Anna M., Louisa T., Eliza J., Charles F., George S.,
and Caroline F. He was successful in life, and accu
mulated a large fortune.
My son, Sidney L., on the 1st Jan., 1828, married
Margaret, a daughter above named. Mr. Williams
remains rest in Greenwood Cemetery, where a monu
ment, reared by his amiable widow, marks the spot.
The following obituary on the decease of my grand
daughter, Deziah Preston Griffin, appeared in one of our
public papers. She died Feb. 5th, 1847:
How true is the declaration of an inspired waiter,
" that as for man his days are as grass ; as a flower of
286 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
the field, so he flourishes ; for the wind passeth over it,
and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no
more forever." Thus it is with all human kind. We
are brought into existence to spend a few short years,
and even in the morning of life we may seek the solemn
silence of the grave, and our infant form mingle back
to dust from whence it came. If we should survive to
reach manhood s riper years, in an hour we know not
we may slumber in death ; and if existence be still pro
longed the winter of life is approaching, when time w T ill
surely prostrate our bodies into the mouldering urn. Ex
perience teaches us that death is continually busy in our
world ; and his ravages extend from shore to shore, and
" from the rivers to the end of the earth." The banner
of the warrior is furled, his shield and buckler are laid
aside, and his sword is resting in its scabbard. The
student, whose time and energies was devoted to the
pursuit of knowledge, has ceased to pore over the clas
sic page ; the volume of science is closed, and he, too,
is sleeping his " dreamless sleep." The sailor boy slum
bers in ocean s caves ; "he has made the coral rock his
sepulchre, and the towering wave his monument." The
lawyer refunds the fee of life, and stoops to pay obse
quious court to the despotic tomb. The arrows of death,
in every country and in every clime, are flying thick
and fast ; and the young and the beautiful, the mature
and the aged, are falling around us on every side.
Death, as in this instance, enters the family circle, where
all was peace, comfort, and happiness, and intelligence
had shed the brightness of her presence. His shaft is
leveled, and the loved one falls. And then how many
bosoms are made to heave with anguish ; how many
APPENDIX. 287
sighs to be breathed forth, and how many bitter tears
to fall ! An aching void is felt within ; a sickness
comes over the fond heart, and we sit us down and
weep that a world so fair and beautiful should yet be
a world of vanity and pain ; that loved ones should die,
and the heart s dearest treasures perish forever from our
sight.
Such were my reflections on being awakened at mid
night by a messenger sent to inform me of the decease
of my dear friend Deziah, the young and interesting wife
of Capt. Samuel Griffin, of Suffolk Court House. Her
departure, though reasonably looked for by and bye,
came upon me then suddenly and fearfully. Sleep for
sook me, and I remained gloomy and thoughtful until
the light of the morning soothed, in a degree, the dis
turbed repose of the unwelcome call. So young, so
happy, so good, so n t to live, and yet so early dead !
And what an intellect has passed with her ! As a me
teor, the brightness gleamed before me was quenched,
and left no sign.
How much is lost to the living in such a fall ! Pale
Consumption, to thy wasting embrace Deziah s poor
mortality yielded ; but the immortal spirit, the pure in
telligence, remained to the last unsubdued, unconquered
and not thine, O, Death ! but hers was the conquest
and the victory ; for, although the frail texture of na
ture was given up, and mortality s debt was paid, she
yet lives, and she shall live forever. So much virtue,
and beauty, and mind can never die ; and when suns,
and moons, and stars shall be hurled from their spheres,
and become the sport and prey of time, and all nature
shall sink in years, thy pure and spotless spirit, Deziah,
288 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
shall replume itself in perennial youth, " fast by the
throne of God." And this is life ! Another bright ef
fulgence of intellect has passed from us, and joined that
luminous band which have gone before. G.
February 13, 1847.
The following was written on the anniversary of my
eightieth year :
My four score years, with all their fears.
Have passed, just like a dream ;
My walk grows slow, my spirits low,
And all now cheerless seem.
Where are my mates of early bloom
My friends of manhood s age 1
All, almost all, have quit this stage,
And sunk into the tomb.
Well, here I am, yet on the sea
Which they so late sail d o er ;
But soon my boat will cease to float
Where earthly waters roar.
Blessed is the man whose virtues scan
The coast where s all that cheers
There all is rife with endless life,
Nor death, nor pain, nor tears.
Nine times ten revolving years,
With all their weighty cares and fears,
I speedily have passed.
How like a visionary dream
Do all these revolutions seem!
How short, from first to last !
Ibo et est ridibo. A. GRIFFIN.
Hempstead, Aug. 6th, 1856.
The following is an obituary on the decease of my
daughter, ISTarcissa L. Raymond, who died March, 1847 :
The demise of this amiable woman deserves some-
APPENDIX. 289
thing more from the pen of affection than the simple
announcement of her early mortality. The writer of
this brief eulogy may do injustice to his subject, but his
apology is the many excellences of her character. In
all the moralities and charities of life, she was a model
for imitation; but the most prominent feature which
distinguished her from her cotemporaries, was her un
bounded cheerfulness of disposition, which gave delight
to all who were so fortunate as to come within the
happy sphere of its influence.
" Life, with her, appeared to be a fairy pilgrimage
through a garden of flowers ; and if a thorn appeared
in her path, it was immediately concealed from view
by the sweetness of her temper, and the blandness and
courtesy of her manners. She was an affectionate wife,
a kind sister, and her aged parents, trembling on the
verge of life, will remember, with a grateful feeling of
resignation that will tranquilize their sorrows, her un
faltering performance of duty to them, and her endur
ing affection for them ; and her many friends and neigh
bors will long recall, with a mournful pleasure, the me
mory of one who enlivened their social circle by the
fascination of her conversation, and honored their com
munity by the example of her unobtrusive virtues.
" When the bright spring shall cover the place of
her repose with his flowers, which she so much resembled
when the happy birds shall warble a hymn to the
morning over her unbroken slumbers how many there
will be who will deeply regret that she, who was once
one of their number, is forever separated in this world
from friends to whom she was so greatly endeared, and
25
tJ90 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
sc3nes on which she bestowed so much admiration.
" Orient, March 20, 1847. I. O. T."
The following elegy was written on the death of my
mother Deziah Griffin, who died November, 1814. The
author was Edward C. King, Esq., noticed in these
pages.
And hast thou, pure and spotless spirit, flown
To realms of joy and everlasting rest,
Where never more an anxious sigh or groan,
Shall interrupt the raptures of thy breast 1
0, yes ; to a frail tenement of clay,
Too long enchained, and now at last, set free,
Joyous and light thou tread st the starry way,
To seek thy destined home Eternity.
Could the cold breast of him* who frames this lay.
Feel but a spark of that celestial fire
Which warmed thee here, not till the latest day
Of time should thy loved memory expire.
For, fixed as are the shining orbs on high,
And told in strains as Angels songs divine,
Striking and full, upon a vain world s eye,
Thy bright examples should forever shine.
And those whose sins, enchanting pathway tread.
Or life s more gay and giddy courses run,
Should pause, and deeply ponder, as they read,
And feel, and say, how great if good is man.
The Christian virtues that in thee combined,
Shown through thy elevated walk below,
The peace that ever filled thy clou Hess mind,
Thejoys that faith, and hope, and love bestow.
The patience, while excrutiating paint
For years did wear away thy frame and breath,
* Edward C. King, Esq., died, while on a visit to New York, in 1830, a subject of
that religion which Mrs. Griffin had so often urged him to procure.
t Her sufferings, by sickness and great debility for many years, were affectingly
severe, but borne with a resignation and composure truly divine. A more pious, ex
emplary and devoted Christian, perhaps, this town has never known. There is not
perhaps a professor, over fifty years of age, but what has heard her addresses in
public.
APPENDIX. 291
That bade thee never, e en in thought, complain,
Or, for a moment, wish relief in death.
These should this dirge in everlasting song,
Faithful to truth and worth departed, tell ;
But such a theme, the bard can only wrong,
When vain each effort, as he ought to feel.
Sally, the eldest daughter of Nicoll Haven, Esq., of
Shelter Island, married General Sylvester Dering, a
man of real philanthropy to the poor and distressed in
and around his district. His attentions to all such were
assuredly much, and were truly appreciated. His
eldest son is Charles T. Dering, Esq., of Sag Harbor
whose life, manner, and doings among his fellow men,
show him to possess a heart humane, tender, and in the
right place.
Mr. Genin, the subject of the following obituary, was
a grandson of John Nicolas Genin, noticed previously :
and son of Thomas II. Genin, Esq., now of St. Clairs-
ville, Ohio.
"When a young man passes the threshold of life, and
enters upon the busy and active scenes of the world,
the public, as well as his immediate friends, take a deep
interest in his future fortunes. Mr. Genin, whose re
cent death in a foreign land is deeply felt and mourned
by all his acquaintances, commenced his career with
brilliant prospects before him, and the strong hopes of
a long and useful life. He possessed talents of a supe
rior order, which were cultivated and improved by a
liberal education and extensive reading. He early
qualified himself for the profession of the law, and was
Boon admitted to the bar, and commenced a successful
practice. In conversation, Mr. Genin was remarkably
292 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
gifted, and could always draw upon his varied fund of
information for proper material to entertain, instruct,
and enliven his friends or the social circle. His man
ners were those of a well-bred gentleman dignified,
but not ^ostentatious ; easy and courteous; free in his
communications, and obliging and respectful to all. In
his associations he was not confined to the company of
youth alone, but sought society with age and expe
rience, in which he enjoyed much pleasure and satis
faction. His systematic manner of doing business, ex
cellent moral character, and uprightness" of conduct, in
all the transactions of life, are models worthy of imitation.
" Mr. Genin possessed a natural taste and talent for
the fine arts. In early youth unaided, and without
instruction he indulged his pencil in drawing por
traits, landscapes, and historical scenes, which he con
tinued at intervals to the close of his life. His produc
tions have been pronounced by competent judges as
finished specimens of painting, and do great credit to
the art as well as the youthful artist among which, the
writer of this has observed the battle of Granicus ; the
landing of Csesar in Britain ; the battle of Arbela ; the
death of Csesar; the passage of the Red Sea by the Is
raelites ; the rescue of the American prisoners by Jas
per and Newton ; the Woman of Monterey, and others,
containing from six or ten to seventy or eighty figures,
in varied and expressive attitudes, harmonizing with the
leading idea of the design.
" The combined oratorical and martial air of Csesar
directing the descent on Britain ; the intense action of
Bucephalus and his rider rushing over the Persians ;
the mingled sorrow and dignity with which Csesar
APPENDIX. 293
views the steel of Brutus ; the meek but dignified as
surance with which Moses looks to Heaven while ex
tending liis wand over the sea ; the calm intrepidity of
the Mexican woman, and the gratified expression of the
wounded soldiers receiving water at her hands, evince
great strength of conception and power of execution in
the artist.
" I have been told that he aimed at anatomical ac
curacy, and would draw first the skeleton, and then
gradually clothe it with arteries, veins, muscles and
skin, to impress on his mind an exact idea of the human
form.
" For some years before his death, Mr. Genin s health
began to decline ; and, although every thing was done
that paternal affection and tenderness could do, no
change for the better could be produced. He derter-
rnined to take a journey to the South, if possible, to re
gain his health, believing that the sunny skies of the
tropics, and balmy air of the sea, would arrest the dis
ease. But it was all in vain. The greatest destroyer
had marked him for his own. He spent the winter at
Kingston, in the island of Jamaica, gradually sinking
away, until the 4th of April, when, at the age of twenty-
eight, death closed his earthly existence. He was thus
cut down in the morning of life, and the ardent hopes
of his friends, and the presages of future eminence and
distinction were blasted forever. Although he died
among strangers, in a strange land, yet he was not with
out friends. His goodness of heart and urbanity of
manner created for him the warmest attachments. His
dying bed was surrounded by anxious and sympathizing
25*
294 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
hearts, until the last pulsation of life announced the
fact that death had done his work, and that his spirit
had fled from earth to Heaven. He was buried in the
most honorable manner. The Consul of the United
States, the reverend clergy, all the Americans in the
city, and a large concourse of strangers, followed his
remains to the grave, and deposited them in their last
resting place upon earth.
" Who can invade the sanctity of family sorrow to as
suage its bitterness ? Paternal and fraternal love can
never die ; the agony of severed ties will be felt ; grief
must have its outpourings, and nothing but time, sub
mission, true philosophy, and the fortitude of the Chris
tian and his hopes, can give consolation. An afflicted
community sympathize with the- bereaved family for
their irreparable loss."
" Be kind to your father," were the last words of my
dear wife to her children. Mrs. Eunice Case Terry,
the excellent wife of Daniel Tuthill Terry, of Southold,
has written the following lines in consequence, and we
cheerfully give them a place in our pages, as worthy of
their talented authoress :
Be kind unto thy father, now
That age is stamp d upon his brow ;
When youthful pleasures all are past,
And early friends are fading fast
Be kind unto thy father.
For he has been to me, and thee,
All that the nearest friend could be ;
Faithful did he his duties fill,
And shielded us from every ill
Be kind unto thy father.
APPENDIX. 295
Along life s way, through all the years
From youth to age, raid smiles or tears,
Through many trials, bravely borne,
My richest jewel proudly roam
My children, was thy father.
And now, when on my failing eyes
Death s heavy shadow darkly lies,
The greatest grief that waits for me.
My children, is parting from thee,
And parting from thy father.
The earth is good, God made it so ;
O er all his works his love doth glow ;
His mercies on my pathway shine,
0, 1 am His, and He is mine
My God, my Heavenly Father,
My children, let thy walk be just,
And in the Lord put thou thy trust ;
That when thy toils on earth are done,
A Heavenly rest thou shalt have won,
Through God, thy gracious Father.
And while upon the earth you stay,
Strive to solace the lonely way
And strive to make the pathway bright,
And render every burden light,
Of him thine earthly father.
Should ill invade his lonely room,
Or sorrow cloud his mind with gloom,
Should sickness on his form be press d,
Or biting cares assail his breast
Be kind unto thy father.
" My son," should honor on thy footsteps wait
Prosperity be thine estate
Should wealth and power be thine to hold,
And gates of pleasure wide unfold
Remember, still, thy father.
For he is old, and fading fast ;
E en now, along his way are cast
296 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Dim shadows, gathering from the tomb ;
Within thy heart, 0, give him room,
And honor thou thy father.
Such were the words of one who, more
Than fourscore years, life s changes bore :
Her heart, true to its early choice,
Invoked with its latest voice
"Be kind unto thy father I 1
E. C. T.
Died, at Hempstead, Queens county, Dec. 18, 1856,
Anna Eliza, wife of my grandson, Augustus K. Griffin,
Esq., and daughter of Stephen Hewlett, aged twenty-
three years.
" Sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, she drew the drapery
Of her couch about her, and lay down
To pleasant dreams."
The following acrostic is the production of Mr. Win.
A. Overtoil, mentioned in the foregoing pages:
Amidst the scenes of life, we plainly see
Unerring wisdom in the deity ;
Great is the work, still greater is the cause,
Uniting nature by a code of laws
So formed are they, that all who do offend,
Take the whole evil which those laws intend ;
Unwelcome as the case to us may be,
Still, each offence receives its penalty.
Grave as the subject, yet those facts appear,
Resolved by nature, which mankind must bear
Is this the easel is this to be the lot
For us to live, to die, and be forgot 1
Far brighter scenes we humbly hope to have,
In realms of bliss that lie beyond the grave.
Now, aged friend, let each those talents given,
Gain all they can in the sure path to Heaven.
APPENDIX. 297
Extract of a letter from my grandson, John Augus
tus Preston, now deceased :
" March 29, 1847.
" DEARLY BELOVED GRANDPARENTS : You are again
called upon to suffer, as well as to rejoice. The lesson
of human instability, though so frequently and so pain
fully learned, you have again, with bitter experience,
reviewed. It is thus, when death, with silent tread, en
ters the circle of our own kindred, that we feel, too
surely, that we too must pass through the dreaded or
deal. But Heaven i afflicts not willingly. God is mer
ciful, and as His ways are past finding out, why
should we arraign our puny arm against his judgments?
His afflictions are mercies in a mourning garb. Heaven
rarely leaves us to mourn, without affording some con
solation some cheering light to shine upon our dark
ness, and chase away our gloom. Karcissa has joined
the happy throng of angels her sisters in glory, the
first, perhaps, to welcome her to the ever-growing de
lights of their blissful abode. She has left a world of
sin and sorrow, and a life attended with disease and
pain. Here, then, is youf richest consolation. Yet, the
ties of affection have been rudely severed, and nature
mourns over the decree of unrelenting fate. We seem
to forget that death is but a soft transition from the
vale of woe to supernal joys that the darkness of the
tomb is but the shadow which hides from our view the
glories of Heaven.
" Our dying friends come o er us like a cloud,
To damp our brainless ardors, and abate
That glare of light which often blinds the wise."
" How strangely insensible to the true end of exist-
298 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
ence is man. He lays his plans as though eternity
were the compass of his years. l He heapeth up rich
es, and knoweth not who shall gather them. I like
that excellent maxim of an ancient sage, which says:
< We should live as though every day of our life were
to be the last. In concluding these reflections, sug
gested by the death of one whom we all loved with
tender affection, let me indulge the hope that we may
all meet her in that blessed world where God, himself,
shall wipe away all tears from our eyes where a closer
tie than consanguinity shall unite our hearts, even,
praise to our God, throughout the ceaseless cycles of
Eternity.
*%**#*#**
When shall I wake and find me there V
" I must say a word concerning my prospects, and
hastily close. My practice, for the last month, has
been sufficient to keep me busy. God has blessed the
means which I have used, and my patients have all
done well. The people seem much attached to me, and
I am gaining their confidence in a good degree. I hope
to justify their good opinion by constant endeavors to
merit it by faithfully doing my duty. Pray for me,
my dear grand-parents, that I may copy the virtues of
my father, and that my last end may be like his. With
love to all, and a renewed assurance of my devoted
affection, I remain, &c."
EXTRACT FROM ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE SAME.
" At present, not knowing the number of strands in
the thread of my life, and even guessing being out of
the question , I calmly await developments. The fates
APPENDIX. 299
never get far out of our way, and the scissors of Atro-
pos are ever ready for active duty. One of the sisters,
you will recollect, spins out the thread of life. In my
case, I am disposed to think she has stopped her spin
ning operations, and it is my care to reel off the same
without too much precipitancy. Just now it comes
from the spindle a good round thread ; to-morrow, a
strand may part, and force me to confess that union is
strength ; but while the gossamer tissue lasts, how
many interests cluster around it ; while one filmy,
atomy band remains, it sustains the fearful weight of
the hopes, the affections, and the joys of home. Of
what use is this poor, decayed, helpless body ; one
breath only removed from the work which chem
istry does for all mortal. When unconcerned, we
say Let it go ; what matter a few days? Cor
ruption and oblivion will make it all the same !
Ah ! your life is many volumed ; who would lose
a tome ? Your family tree has its well-poised and
fitting number of branches. Who would see that tree
despoiled of its beauties ? Who would rob the sick
oyster of its pearl, or scatter the golden bonds of affec
tion, by ruthlessly breaking the woolen string which
holds them together? But I am taking up too much
space. If it avails to show my appreciation of your
tender remembrance, I shall not regret the pleasant
hour thus employed."
Zachariah Greene, now of Hempstead, was born Jan.
11, 1760, in the town of Stafford, Hartford (now Tolland)
county, Conn. His mother was the daughter of Robert
and Jane White, h rst settlers of Stafford, and nearly
300 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL
allied to the celebrated Hugh White, after whom
Whitestown, X. Y., was named.
Parson Greene is the familiar name by which our hero
is known and distinguished from all other men through
out the length and breadth of Long Island. He is the
only parson in Hempstead, at least ; all the other par
sons are only ministers. In many respects, Goldsmith s
description of the " Vicar of Wakefield" portrays the
person and accomplishments of Parson Greene. Per
haps the Vicar s habits of contentment never reached
the same happy summit as is realized in "our own"
Parson. The Parson is the more interesting, as he is a
living book all fact and no tiction : he can be read in
conversation. He speaks of sermons in the pulpit and
battles in the Revolutionary struggle with like affability
and ease. He is not easily alarmed, and laughs heartily
at the story of Brooks running away with the national
archives, and dissolving the Union. He listens with
his left ear, but looks penetratingly with both eyes,
while he speaks fluently, with the affectionate authority
of a father, and commends everything he says to the
sons, and particularly to the daughters of his hearers.
He looks hale, plump, and hearty, and always says he
is well. He detests grumbling, and is easily satisfied.
He is the happiest man on Long Island. He entertains
the prospect of death with the same pleasure as the re
ception of a friend. In his own words, " whether living
or dead, he is the Lord s." In short, he is rhe gentle
man, the scholar, the patriot, and the Christian.
At the age of sixteen years, just at the time of his
leaving school, the cause of his country called him from
private life, and with a beloved brother he entered the
APPENDIX. 301
army under Capt. Amos Walbridge, in Col. Reed s
regiment, Brigadier Glover s brigade, and joined it at
Roxbury. George Washington was Commander-in-
Cliief, and headed an army of men who were soldiers
from patriotic motives men determined to have a place
in national representation, as well as national taxation
men whose souls had been tried by the tyranny of kings
and the petty despotism of kings courtiers. It was
under these circumstances that Zachariah Greene en
tered the ranks of the Revolutionary army under Wash
ington, and for these reasons that he fought in its battles.
He aided in the erection of the fort at Dorchester,
which was commenced one evening at sundown, and at
sunrise next morning his party had cannon playing
upon Boston, and succeeded in driving the British out
of Boston, from whence they sailed clown the bay to
Castle William ; here they run ashore and burned all
the buildings in Dorchester Neck. They cannonaded
the Neck the whole night with grape-shot and chain-
shot, firing over the American troops, ultimately suc
ceeding in destroying a poor man s orchard. He moved
with the army under Washington from Roxbury to
New York, and landed there in April, where he aided
in the erection of the fort on Brooklyn Heights. He
left New York with the army when it evacuated, and
went above Kingsbridge. When the British arrived
at Throggs Point the battle commenced, and lasted till
the armies were separated by the messenger of the great
Arbiter, darkness. Soon after this he was in the battle
of White Plains, in 1776. In 1777 the same company
was joined to Capt. Webb s company in Connecticut.
26
302 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
He was with the party which was sent to take the fort
at Brookhaven, which was built round the Presbyterian
Church, of which, twenty-one years after, he was in
stalled pastor. He was in the body of men who marched
into the region of Philadelphia, and was at the battle
of White Marsh. During the engagement he received
a wound in the left shoulder, on the 7th day of Sep
tember, 1777, his shoulder-blade being shattered. He
was three days drenched in blood before having any
attention paid to his wound, at the end of which time
he applied to Dr. Robinson, a gentleman who had been
taken prisoner, to attend to his wants. He told Dr. R.
that he would compensate him. Dr. R. asked him if
he was not afraid to trust an enemy. He replied, " I
can trust a gentleman." Dr. R. attended to his case,
and succeeded in healing up the wound. Mr. Greene
put his right hand, containing the compensation, be
hind his back, and told the doctor to shake hands with
him in that attitude. The doctor thanked him, and
expressed a great desire to have his wife and children
on this side of the Atlantic, saying that if they were
here he should stay altogether.
The above is the result of Mr. Greene s experience,
as stated by himself. Being of little more service in
the army, as he was no longer able to bear arms, at the
request of his father, and by order of Gen. Washington,
he was discharged from the army, having, with a good,
patriotic heart and manly soul, aided the cause of his
country in several of its hardest battles. When Ameri
cans look upon such a man, they truly
"Behold that eye which shot immortal hate,
Crushing the despot s proudest bearing."
During the winter of 1780, in the month of January,
APPENDIX. 303
he walked sixteen miles, on a pair of snow-shoes, for the
purpose of procuring a small Latin book which he
required to aid him in his preparation for college. He
had now entered, according to his own words, " an
army in which he was determined to fight for a better
Declaration of Independence than the last." He re
solved to be a soldier of Christ. He had fought under
Gen. Washington ; he was now going to " fight under
and for King Jesus."
In the year 1782 he entered Dartmouth College, but
had been engaged in study but a short time, when,
owing to bad health, he was compelled for a season to
withdraw. After a considerable recess, he assumed
the cares of a student once more. He studied one quar
ter under Dr. Huntington, of Coventry, Conn. He
afterwards went to New Jersey, and studied with Dr.
Greene. He subsequently studied theology with Amzi
Lewis, of Orange county, IS". Y.
Having passed through all the preliminary and ini
tiatory steps necessary to prepare him for the Gospel
ministry, he was duly licensed to preach on the 1st day
of February, 1785. On the 28th of June, 1786, he was
ordained pastor of a Presbyterian Church at Cutchogue,
L. L, and is now the senior pastor of the First Presby
terian Church at Brookhaven, or Setanket, where he
was settled on the 27th of September, 1797.
In the year 1800, he visited the scene of his first col
legiate experience, at Dartmouth, N. H., and upon his
return the Faculty of that institution honored him with
a diploma, which he has prized very highly through life.
From the time of his ordination, till within the last
few years, he has labored, " in season and out of sea-
304 GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
son," in the ministry, pursuing an even course, and do
ing much good to his fellow-men in all the realities of
life. During this period of service, he endeavored, by
special effort, to increase the happiness of two thousand
individuals, by uniting them (one thousand couples) in
the holy bands of matrimony.
" Whither shall I go from Thy spirit, or whither shall
I flee from Thy presence ?
"The ubiquity of God how baffling to any finite
comprehension ! to think that above us, and around us,
and within us, there is nothing but Deity the invisible
footprints of an omniscient, omnipresent One ! His eyes
are on everyplace ; on rolling planets and tiny atoms ;
on the bright seraph and the lowly worm ; roaming in
searching scrutiny through the tract of immensity, and
reading the occult and hidden page of the heart ! i All
things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with
whom w r e have to do. O, God! shall this, Thy omni
presence, appal me? Nay, in my seasons of sadness,
sorrow, and loneliness, when other comforts and com
forters have failed ; when, it may be, in the darkness
and silence of some midnight hour, in vain I have sought
repose : how sweet to think i my God is here ! I am not
alone ; the omniscient One, to whom the darkness and the
light are both alike, is hovering over my sleepless pillow.
He that keepeth Israel, neither slumbers nor sleeps !
" O, thou eternal Sun ! it cannot be darkness, or
loneliness, or sadness where thou art. There can be no
night to the soul which has been cheered with Thy glo
rious radiance !
" 4 Lo ! I am with you alway ! is Thy legacy of part*
APPENDIX. 305
ing love. In the midst of Thy church, till the end of
time, ever present omnipresent ! The true pillar of
cloud by day, and tire by night, presiding and encamp
ing by us, in every step of our wilderness journey. My
soul, think of Him at this moment in the mysterious-
ness of His Godhead nature, and yet with all the exqui
sitely tender sympathies of a glorified humanity, as ever
present with every member of the family. He has re
deemed with his blood ; aye, and as much present with
every individual soul as if he had none other to care
for, but as if that one engrossed all His affection and
love ! The great Builder, surveying every stone and
pillar of His spiritual temple the great Shepherd, with
his eye on every sheep of His fold the great High
Priest and Elder Brother, marking every tear drop,
noting every sorrow, listening to every prayer, knowing
the peculiarities of every case ; no number perplexing
Him ; no variety bewildering Him ; able to attend to
all ; myriad wants drawing hourly on His treasury, and
yet no diminution that treasury ever emptying, and
yet ever tilling and always full !
"Lord, thy perpetual and all-pervading presence
turns darkness into day. I am not left unbefriended to
weather the storms of life if Thy hand be, from hour
to hour, piloting my frail bark. Gracious antidote to
every earthly sorrow, I have set the Lord always be
fore me ! Even now, as night is drawing its curtains
around me, be this my closing prayer :
" i Blessed Saviour ! abide with me, for it is toward
evening, and the day is far spent! Under the over
shadowing wings of Thy presence and love, 4 1 will lay
me down in peace, and sleep P "
26*
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Foster Pettet, do., 1
Capt. James Smith, do., 1
Henry Cleves, do., 1
Thomas S. Denike, do., 1
John W. Hobart, do., 2
Hiram Bedell, do., 1
G. N. Powell, do., 1
J J. Porter, 283 Pearl st., N.Y., 1
Charles N. Bellows, 121 Fulton
st , N. Y., 1
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No. of Copies.
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st., W msburgh, 1
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Williamsburgh, 1
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st., N. Y., 1
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Wm. A. Herrick, do., 1
J. P. Sutton, do., 1
Andrew F. Carpenter, do., 1
Henry R. Carpenter, do., 1
William S. Carpenter, do., 1
Rev. L. Wells, do., 1
Thomas Moore, do., 1
J. W. Corwm, do., 1
APPENDIX.
307
Rev. Samuel King, N. Y., 1
Henry W. Penny, do., 1
Erastus Genin, N. Y., 1
John N. Genin, do., 1
C. W. & J. T. Moore, N. Y., 2
W. M. Robins, w h Moore & Co., 1
A. M. Corwin, do. do., 1
Mrs. Goliff, N. Y , 1
Mrs. Jas. Wilkie, N. Y., 1
Capt. J. W. Patterson, W msb h, 1
Robert Sears, N. Y., 1
Jas. Wilkie, jr., do., 1
Warren Griffin, Mad n st., N. Y., 1
Hon. Wm. H. Tuthill, Tipton,
Cedar co., Iowa, 5
John B. Booth, 1
Southold, L. I.
J. Wickham Case, 1
Rev. E. Whitaker, 1
N. H. Cleveland, 1
Israel Peck 1
Wm H. H Glorer, 1
James B. Downs, 1
Wm. D. Cochran, 1
Don Alonzo Miller, 1
John Howell, 1
James D. Vail, 1
Jonathan Horton, 1
Daniel H. Goldsmith, 1
Mrs. Sarah C. Folk, 1
Charles H. Paine, 1
A. M. Yonng, 1
Thomas S. Letter, 1
Albert Albertson, 1
Charles Merrill, 1
Benjamin R. Prince, 1
Elam P. Horton, 1
Capt. Daniel Beebe, 1
Thos. A. Terry,
Jeremiah Goldsmith,
Daniel Terry,
Fredk K. Terry,
John H. Boisseau,
James B. Worth,
Hutchinson H. Case,
R. T. Goldsmitk,
Capt Benjamin Wells, 2
Joseph H. Goldsmith, 2
Wm H. Wells,
Wm Y, Fithian,
George P. Horton,
Wm. Albertson, jr.,
Charles 0. Horton,
Wm C. Salmon,
Daniel E. Terry,
Stephen 0. Salmon,
Silas Horton,
D. T. Terry,
Mosea C. Cleveland,
J. Henry Cochran,
Mr. Maria L. Prince,
Daniel H. Goldsmith,
Mrs Henry Tuthill,
Jonathan S. Overton,
Austin Horton,
James E. Horton,
Erastus Moore,
Mrs. Asa Smith,
F. N. Terry,
Hiram Terry,
J. Case, Hermatage,
Walter A. Wells,
J Albert Tillinghast,
Phineas Fanning,
Miss Martha D. Horton, 1
Matthew B. Akerly, 1
Lawrens Horton, 1
308
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Thomas E. Prince,
Daniel T. Glover,
Jonathan G. Horton,
D. Philander Horton,
J. Albert Wells,
Lorenzo D. Osborn,
Miss Eliza A. Corwin,
Henry W. Prince,
Albert G. Case,
Israel Case Terry,
Stuart T. Terry,
Wm. Horace Case,
Russel Vail,
David Carpenter,
Alanson Hullock,
Riverliead, L. 1.
Spicer D. Dayton,
1
Charles Vail,
1
Wells Griffin,
1
Daniel H. Osborn,
1
John Corwin, jr.,
1
Scepter Luce,
1
George L. King,
1
Nathan Corwin,
1
Joshua L. Wells,
1
Harrison Corwin,
1
Abel Ketchum,
1
Daniel H. Corwin,
1
Charles H Conley,
1
George F. Carman,
John V. Pugsley,
Wilmot 8cudder,
R. H. Benjamin,
William Walkman,
D. B. Foster,
Wm. H. Hill,
H. Youngs,
Joshua H. Wells,
Nicholas D. Hutchinaon, 1
James H. Skidmore, 1
F. 0. Phelps,
Dr. Chas. Rice,
Dr George Howell,
David C. Wells,
C. M. Hempstead,
Charles E. Vail,
Dr. A. H. Luce,
Silas S. Terry,
William H Brown,
Chas. Hallett,
0. H. Griffin,
F. D. Hosier,
Robert Carman,
John F. Jennings,
George S. Skid-nore,
Jeremiah Byrnes,
Richard Alberteon,
Samuel Griffin,
B. F. Corwin,
Thomas D. Winters,
Francis C. Terry,
Isaac Sweezy,
Parmenus Terry,
Martin V. Squires,
George Hill,
Joshua Corwin, jr.,
John C. Davis, 1
Hubbard Corwiu, 1
Orient, tf. Y.
Andrew J. Racket,
Sidney Beebe,
Grant B. Racket,
John B Youngs, merchant.
George F. Glover,
Jonathan Truman,
Elias T. King,
Francis Norton,
Henry H. Terry,
Capt. Marcus B. Brown,
John 0. Terry,
Chas. B. Moore,
Rev. Albert Fitch,
Capt. Warren Beebe,
Capt. David Beebe,
D. Lodowick Beebe,
Jasper Y. Tuthill,
Elisha Mulford,
Lewis A. Edwards,
Rrv. Henry Glover,
Capt. E. P. Brown,
T. Henry Youngs,
J. H. Terry,
Orange D Petty,
David A. Petty,
Calrin M. King,
Joseph C. Havens,
Benjamin M. Youngs,
H. Alexander Holmes,
Robert Thompson,
Lewis B. King,
David T. Glover,
Peter W. Tuthill,
Thomas H. Petty,
Wm. W. Youngs,
Henry M. Vail,
James H. Young,
Benjamin K. Mulford,
Elisha H. Mulford,
Smith Dewey,
John B. Youngs,
Capt. Elisha S. Racket,
Thomas Rockwell,
Nathan Champlin,
Sidney L. King,
Benjamin Harlow,
Elias Terry,
Wm H. Tuthill,
APPENDIX. 309
1 Moses Latham, 1
Andrew H. Latham,
David Youngs,
Andrew J. Beebe,
Rev. Henry W. Clark,
Capt Ezekiel N Glover,
Wm. T. Conklin,
Darid A. Tuthill,
Francis R. Youngs,
Capt. Henry Dyer,
10 H. E. Bradford, 1
2 Joseph Latham, 3
5 Moses J. Terry, 2
1 Daniel T. Terry, 1
1 David Petty, 1
1 George M. Vail, 1
1 Capt. Wm. T. Terry, 1
1 Capt. Lester B. Terry, 1
1 Mrs Julia Dyer, 1
Capt. Thomas Pool, 1
William Young, 2
Benjamin Terry, 1
Isaac Edwards, 3
William S. Hobart, 1
5 Noah Tuthill, 1
1 Samuel K. Terry, 1
2 Seth B. Taber, 2
2 Capt. Jeremiah Youngs, 1
2 Capt. Absalem King, 1
1 Thomas V. Youngs, 2
2 Joseph L. Tuthill, 1
1 James W. Youngs, 1
2 Seth L Tuthill, 1
Lorenzo D. Dyer, 1
Francis E. King, 1
David Terry, 1
Wm. Potter, jr., 1
Thomas A. Terry, 1
310
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Hempstead & Jamaica.
Augustus R. Griffin, 1
Geo. S. Williams, Hempstead, 10
John K. Townsend, do., 25
A. W. Jerome, do. , 1
Stephen Johnson, do., 1
Samuel H. Denton, do,, 1
John W. Hallock, do , 1
Mrs Hewitt Smith, Jamaica, 1
Mrs. Henry Johnson, do., 1
JohnH. Sutphen, do., 1
Sidney J. Youngs, do., 3
Henry Onderdonk, jr., do., 1
Lew. W. Angerine, Hempstead, 1
John Spader, Jamaica, 1
S. L. Spader, do., 1
Silas Carl, Hempstead, 1
Hon. Henry Loop, do., 1
Alex. Townsend, Cedar Swamp,
Hempstead, 1
Clara Townsend, do., 1
Harriet Townsend, do., 1
Jane E. 0., niece to John K.
Townsend, Hempstead, 1
A. Cortelyou, do.. 2
S Cortelyou, do , 1
Laurens Reeve, Jamaica, 2
James H Reeve, do., 1
Isaac T Reere, do., 1
George Skidmore, do., 1
Latham M Jagger, do., 1
Chas. Welling, do., 1
Jeremiah Keeler, do., 1
Edwin J. Crane, do., 1
Miss Phebe Reere, do., 1
James P. Brown, do., 1
George M. Paff, Hempstead, 1
Madison Griffin, Hicksville, 1
Titus, Hempstead, 1
Titus, Farmingdale, 1
James C. Townsend, Hempst d, 3
Richard Brower, do., 1
Elmira, IV . Y.
Green M. Tuthill, 2
Samuel Jones, 1
Myron Raplee,
S. S. Raplee,
Jefferson Raplee,
Nehemiah Raplee,
Hiram Tuthill,
Lydia T. Reynolds,
Mrs. Jessie Foster,
A. H. Fink,
Mrs. W. H. Thorne,
Mrs. W. M. Gibson,
Mrs. W. W. Bennet, 1
Elizabeth Smith, 1
S. Benjamin, 4
John K. Terry, 1
0. P. Terry, 1
D. H. Tuthill, 4
S. Leverich, 1
Gabriel Sayre, 1
Charles G. Tuthill, 5
An order to Henry H. Terry, of
Orient, for others, 10
Greeiiport, L<. I.
Jonathan Preston, I
Oliver Penny,
James F. Webb,
Philetas Havens,
Albert P. Corwin,
John Or in Terry,
Adison Brown,
Jeremiah J. Havens, 1
Wm. A. Booth, 1
Levi Preston, 1
John Youngs, 1
APPENDIX.
311
Jesse C. King, 1
George W. Harris, 1
Ebenezer Clark, 1
Parker W. Paine, 1
John F. Booth, 1
Luther Moore, 1
S. B. Tuthill, 1
James C. Corwin, 1
Oliver K. Buckley, 1
John T. K. Youngs, 1
Joshua T. Youngs, 1
Jonathan A. Youngs, 1
Henry T. King, 1
Henry Fordam, 1
Samuel H. Townsend, 1
John H. Conklin, 1
George T. Monroe, 1
John 0. Ireland, 1
G. H. Corwin, 1
W. G. Youngs, 1
Orring H. Cleves, 1
Samuel Fithian, 1
George W Young. 1
William Fithian, 1
Charles Wigging, 1
Georfe W. Lyons, 1
Hon. Frederick W. Lord, 1
Orin F. Brown, 1
John Adams, 1
Thomas Wiggins, 1
Fred. Chase, Shelter s Island, 1
Dr. T. L. Ireland, 1
Sidney P. Racket, 5
Mrs. John Clark, 1
East Marion, L. I.
Charlas Sherrill, 1
John P. Clark, 1
John Jerome, 1
Samuel K. Racket, 1
William Roberts,
B. C. Tuthill,
John M. Griffin,
Richard M. Brooks,
Capt. George Tuthill,
Jeremiah Racket,
Peter W. Griffin,
Capt. James Tuthill,
William Hollis Griffin,
Harbor, I.. I.
Thomas H. Vail, 1
Austin Havens,
Samuel W. Hill,
Edward B. Hill,
John Sherry,
William W. Stewart,
William R. Slate,
William R. Williamson,
William W. Thompson,
Thomas P. Ripley,
Lewis Thompson, 1
Jonathan Havens and sons, 1
Chas. T. Dearing, 1
Major John Hobart, 1
Mrs. Starr, 1
Miss Ellen Griffin, 1
Theodore P. Havens, 2
James Winters,
Henry J. Redfield,
William V. Schellinger,
JohnH. Hunt,
Gilbert H. Cooper,
Geo. W. Dickerson,
C. A. Gardner,
S. H. Edwards,
H. L. Topping,
William H. Cooper,
John M. Stewart,
Henry Stewart,
312
GRIFFIN S JOURNAL.
Miss Caroline Raymond, 1
John Fordam, 1
Mrs. Julia A. Proud, 2
Cutchogue, Mattituek,
Jamesport and Aeque-
bogue.
Joseph Wells, Franklinville, 1
Deacon Ira Tuthill, Mattituck, 1
IraB. Tuthill, do., 1
Peter Fanning, do., 1
Barnabas Osborn, do., 1
Barnabas Corwin, do., 1
James W. Reeve, do., 1
Barnabas Wines, do., 1
D V. Horton, Cutchogue, 1
John Horton, Jamesport, I
Albert Youngs, do., 1
E. H. Aldrich, do., 1
James Aldrich, do., 1
N.W.Hammond, do., 1
C. W. Fanning, Cutchogue, 1
Samuel Fanning, Jamesport, 1
T. Reeve, do., 1
Benjamin Conklin do., 1
Gen. D. Williamson, Ja eport, 1
Joshua Cleves, do., 1
John Hubbard, do., 1
Lester T. King, do., 1
Hamptoiiburgli, Orange
County, W. Y.
Jobn P. Mowbray
Lydia E. Palmer,
L. A. Andrews,
Mrs. Hannah L. Brown,
M. T. Hallock,
Cromline Brown,
Dr. Daniel T. Brown,
Charles Reeve,
Hannah M. Brown,
Promiscuous.
Abraham Legget, North P t,L.L, 1
T. V. Tuthill, Rochester, N.Y., 1
Gilbert Pratt, Albany, N. Y., 1
Philip C. Hay, Orange, N. J., 1
Henry W. Vail, Islip, L. I., 1
Chas. A. Griffin, Harfd,Conn., 10
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